Wintry mountains 1679 - 1689

Gong Xian created "Wintry Mountains," using ink on paper, capturing the essence of a winter landscape sometime during his lifetime, 1619 to 1689. Gong Xian lived during the transition from the Ming to the Qing dynasty, a time of immense social and political upheaval in China. As a Ming loyalist, Gong Xian refused to serve the new Qing rulers. This decision deeply affected his life and art. His landscapes became a form of personal expression and resistance. Here, the monochrome ink evokes a sense of desolation and withdrawal. We see bare trees and snow-covered peaks, images that resonate with Gong Xian’s personal experience of displacement. The traditional landscape painting is transformed into a statement of personal and political integrity. Gong Xian uses nature to reflect his inner emotional state and resilience in the face of adversity. "Wintry Mountains" serves as a powerful visual metaphor for the artist's personal struggles and unwavering commitment to his ideals. It shows us how personal identity is interwoven with historical events.