清 龔賢 自題山水十六開 冊|Landscapes with Poems

Art Historical Context

Created in 1688 during the Qing dynasty, Gong Xian’s album *Landscapes with Poems* exemplifies the intimate, reflective nature of Chinese literati art. Gong, a scholar-painter active in Nanjing, produced this series of eighteen album leaves late in his life. Each leaf pairs a landscape with his own poetic inscriptions, inviting viewers to experience both visual and literary expression in a single work. The album format, designed for leisurely turning page by page, encouraged personal contemplation rather than public display. Gong’s dry-brush technique and layered ink washes create atmospheric depth, evoking misty mountains and secluded retreats. These motifs often carried quiet political resonance for artists who had lived through the Ming dynasty’s fall, suggesting themes of withdrawal and remembrance. The combination of painting and calligraphy on the same surface highlights the literati ideal that art should reveal the artist’s inner character and learning. Today, three leaves from the album are preserved at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Their modest scale and poetic content continue to offer visitors a sense of quiet dialogue between image, word, and the natural world.

About the Artist

Gong Xian · 1619–1689

Chinese, 1619–1689