Crippled Zhang Meets Hunchback Li c. early 17th century
caoxi
minneapolisinstituteofart
ink-on-paper, hanging-scroll
amateur sketch
light pencil work
pencil sketch
incomplete sketchy
ink-on-paper
hanging-scroll
ink drawing experimentation
pen-ink sketch
china
sketchbook drawing
watercolour illustration
sketchbook art
watercolor
"Crippled Zhang Meets Hunchback Li" is a Chinese ink painting from the early 17th century, depicting two figures standing in a landscape, by artist Cao Xi (1600-1637). The painting is notable for its use of ink wash and brushstrokes, which convey a sense of movement and expressiveness. It is a prime example of literati painting, a genre that flourished in China during the Ming Dynasty, and is characterized by its focus on the natural world and the artist's personal experiences. The painting currently resides at the Minneapolis Institute of Art.
Comments
Two lively wise men are shown here engaging in expressive conversation under a drooping pine tree. The inscription, however, adds a layer of political commentary to this work, which was executed around the time of the collapse of the increasingly corrupt Ming court, resulting in the Manchu takeover in 1644. The poem implies that the men, whose bodies are bent, have better characters (i.e., stand straighter) than those in the corrupt court. It reads: Crippled Zhang, carrying dishes of food, off to visit kin,meets hunchbacked Li along the way, andexchanges words of wisdom with him.The two men clap their hands in glee,and laugh out loud: Ha, ha!Nowhere in this world is there a manwho stands quite straight!
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