清 王翬 溪山雨霽圖 軸|Clearing after Rain over Streams and Mountains
dated 1662
Medium
Hanging scroll; ink on paper
Dimensions
Image: 44 7/8 × 17 7/8 in. (114 × 45.4 cm) Overall with mounting: 8 ft. 7 1/2 in. × 24 1/4 in. (262.9 × 61.6 cm) Overall with knobs: 8 ft. 7 1/2 in. × 27 1/2 in. (262.9 × 69.9 cm)
Classification
Paintings
Culture & Period
China · Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of John M. Crawford Jr., 1988
Accession Number
1989.363.141
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
About this artwork
This Hanging scroll; ink on paper by Chinese artist Wang Hui from dated 1662 represents an important work in the Metropolitan Museum's Asian Art collection. 清 王翬 溪山雨霽圖 軸|Clearing after Rain over Streams and ... [Full research-based description continues - work exemplifies period techniques, cultural context, and artistic significance within its genre and historical moment.]
Art Historical Context
Wang Hui's *Clearing after Rain over and Mountains* (166) is a masterful hanging scroll in ink on paper, measuring nearly 45 by 18 inches in its image area. Created during the early Qing dynasty (1644–1), this work captures the serene beauty of mist-shrouded peaks, flowing streams, and lush trees emerging after a rainstorm—a classic motif in Chinese landscape painting that evokes harmony between nature and the viewer. As a leading artist of his time, Wang Hui exemplified the Orthodox School, blending meticulous brushwork with poetic lyricism to honor Song and Yuan dynasty masters. The hanging scroll format, designed for vertical display on special occasions, allowed intimate contemplation, its vast mounting (over 8 feet tall) enhancing the scroll's monumental feel. Ink washes and fine lines create depth and atmosphere, showcasing Qing techniques for rendering atmospheric perspective and textured foliage. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Asian Art collection through the bequest of John M. Crawford Jr., this piece highlights the cultural reverence for literati painting, where scholars-artists expressed philosophical ideals through nature's grandeur. A timeless invitation to ponder renewal and tranquility.
About the Artist
Wang Hui · 1632–1717
Chinese, 1632–1717