Yang Pu Moving His Family
Yuan dynasty (1279–1368) 元朝
Medium
Handscroll; ink and light color on paper
Dimensions
52.7 × 231.1 cm (20 3/4 × 91 in.)
Classification
handscroll
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
76279
Art Historical Context
"Yang Pu Moving His Family" is a captivating handscroll from China's Yuan dynasty (1279–1368), a period marked by Mongol rule and cultural fusion. Created by an unknown artist, this long, narrow painting on paper—measuring an impressive 52.7 × 231.1 cm—unfurls like a storybook, depicting the poignant journey of Yang Pu and his family amid relocation. Ink lines dominate, accented by light colors, evoking the everyday struggles and resilience of ordinary people during a transformative era. Handscrolls like this were prized in Chinese literati culture for intimate, sequential viewing, allowing v...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...