Landscape in the Style of Ancient Masters: after Ni Zan (1301-1374) Possibly 1368 - 1644

Lan Ying created this ink on paper landscape in the style of Ni Zan, a Yuan dynasty painter, during the Ming dynasty in China. This image is a conscious engagement with artistic tradition. By invoking the style of an earlier master, Lan Ying situates himself within a lineage of landscape painters, staking a claim to cultural authority. But this is not mere imitation. We can see it as a commentary on the act of artistic creation itself, asking what it means to build upon the achievements of the past. The prevalence of this kind of artistic referencing also reflects the importance of artistic academies and the education of artists in Ming China. Understanding the social and institutional contexts of artistic production allows us to appreciate the complex ways in which artists engage with their predecessors, their contemporaries, and the artistic institutions of their time. Researching the biographies of both artists and studying the history of Chinese painting academies would further illuminate our understanding of this work.