Calligraphy
1558–1639
Medium
Fan painting; ink on gold paper
Dimensions
Upper width 20 1/4" Lower width 8-3/4" Rib length: 7 1/4"
Classification
album leaf
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
43196
Art Historical Context
Chen Jiru (1558–1639), a distinguished Ming dynasty scholar, painter, and calligrapher, created this elegant fan painting during a period when literati arts flourished in China. As both a functional object and a work of art, the piece reflects the refined tastes of educated elites who valued calligraphy as the highest form of visual expression. Its intimate scale and personal nature made fan paintings popular gifts and treasured possessions among the gentry. Executed in ink on luxurious gold paper, the work highlights the sophisticated techniques of Chinese calligraphy, where the flow of brus...