Attributed to Gong Kai (1222-1304), this painting presents a different illustration of the famous folk story than the one in the Freer Gallery collection (Picture). The figures are rendered with the customary distortions and an impressive degree of animation, conveying beautifully the chaotic movement of the group. With its harmonious blending of realistic and fantastic elements in a poetic landscape setting, this unique Chinese 'storytelling' style also evokes later Japanese painting. (Click on the pictures to enlarge them).
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Gong Kai - Zhong Kui Traveling with his Sister
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3 comments:
The dynamic anatomy of the two fighting imps, the one pushing the other head over heels, is interesting and somewhat reminiscent of scenes from Soushan Tu, as in Daozi Mobao in the Wu Daozi style.
Thanks a lot for your comment. It sent me on an Internet search for the Daozi Mobao but so far, I haven't found more than a couple of images here http://manoa.hawaii.edu/daoist-iconography/dzm.html If you know where the full set of images would be available, in print or electronically, please let me know. I am curious about the standard it establisshed for an important genre of Chinese painting.
The Daozi mobao is a pirated edition. The originals were in the Junkunc Collection and acquired a few years ago by the Cleveland Museum where you can view them online. BTW those album leaves are Ming and not Song as their website states. The Zhong Kui painting should also be of that date, for several reasons.
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