18.  Ming-dynasty Figure Painting

Ming dynasty 1368-1644

Concept: body

Tension in the various definitions of “body:”

corporeality/physicality

versus

the idea that the body is a social surface on which can be inscribed signs and symbols that speak to social rank and personal identity, a cultural artifact

Terms

renwu hua 人物画:   literally, paintings of people and things, usually translated as “figure painting”

figure:   form, shape; in generalized sense, an attribute of the body; bodily shape, including appearance and bearing; an embodied (human) form; to occupy a conspicuous and distinguished position; importance, distinction, mark; represented form, likeness; a representation of the human form now restricted to representation of the whole or greater part of the body

Objects

Shang Xi (active 2nd quarter of 15th century).   Guan Yu Captures the General Pang De. 1430-41.   Hanging scroll, ink, colors, silk; 6'5” x 7'7” (fig. 8-4)

Zhou Chen 周臣 (c. 1450-after 1535).   Beggars and Street Characters. 1516. Album remounted as handscroll, ink, colors, paper; 6'5” x 7'7” (fig. 8-36)

Tang Yin 唐寅 (1470-1524).  Tao Gu Presents a Poem. 1515. Hanging scroll, ink, color, paper; 5'5” x 40 “ (fig. 8-37)

Wu Wei 吳偉 (1459-1508).  Little Slave Li. 1503.   Hanging scroll, ink, paper; 47 x 25” (fig. 8-40)

Qiu Ying 仇英 (1495-1552).   Spring Morning in the Han Palace. 1540. Handscroll, ink, colors, silk; 12' x 18'10” (fig. 8-39)

Chen Hongshou 陳洪綬 (1598-1652).  Lady Xuanwen Giving Instructions on the Classics. 1638.   Hanging scroll, ink, colors, silk; 5'7” x 21 7/8” (fig. 9-10)