Eight Horses 1368 - 1911

Curator: I'm immediately drawn to the elegant, almost spectral quality of the horses. The limited palette and soft lines create such a calming, ethereal mood. Editor: Indeed. We're looking at "Eight Horses", an ink and watercolours painting attributed to Zhao Mengfu, though created during the Ming or Qing dynasties – so spanning from 1368 to 1911. It is a fine example of figuration in Asian art, now housed here at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The very process of ink painting demands a certain spontaneity. Curator: Spontaneity certainly, but also incredible control. Notice the variations in the ink washes and the expressive lines that define the forms. The way the colours interact with the absorbent surface suggests so much about their materiality and craftsmanship of the painter’s hand. Editor: Absolutely. Think about the social status inherent in equine imagery during the imperial period. Horses, then as now, often signified power, status, and military might. This artwork functions, in a sense, as a symbol of cultural prestige, readily available for display in galleries, institutions and affluent homes. Curator: Yet the simplicity of the execution seems to run counter to such ostentation. I'm intrigued by the negative space and lack of detailed background. What does that omission do to the perceived status? Was material restraint as meaningful a symbolic marker of class in that era? Editor: A compelling question! I think the restraint could also be a visual commentary. During the Yuan Dynasty when Zhao Mengfu lived, many Chinese intellectuals chose to withdraw from government service under Mongol rule. This style could perhaps reflect that, presenting simplicity as a virtuous contrast to perceived excess. It would shape and be shaped by such tumultuous times. Curator: A nuanced rebellion, crafted with ink, line and paper. So fascinating how social turmoil influences material culture and the way artists manipulate it. Editor: It is. And remembering where it is viewed now, in The Met, a grand encyclopedic museum. This location undoubtedly shapes its modern-day significance, and how audiences interact with these carefully cultivated images. Curator: A powerful lens for understanding how an artwork’s meaning can shift and resound through the centuries. Editor: Indeed. These ancient traditions and materials, displayed in these institutions, allow for renewed conversations, century after century.