photo: Masatsugu Nokubo
Currently not on view
Hundred Insects (Bai chong tu 百蟲圖 ),
dated guihai (1923) to wuwu (1978)
Li Wenxue 李文學, 20th century
Chinese
Modern period, 1912–present
1998-782
Information
Title
Hundred Insects (Bai chong tu 百蟲圖 )
Dates
dated guihai (1923) to wuwu (1978)
Maker
Medium
Hanging scroll; ink and color on paper
Dimensions
Painting: 42.7 x 65.7 cm. (16 13/16 x 25 7/8 in.)
Mount: 168.5 x 68.3 cm. (66 5/16 x 26 7/8 in.)
Credit Line
The John B. Elliott, Class of 1951, Collection
Object Number
1998-782
Place Made
Asia, China
Inscription
Numerous inscriptions for each insect, dated from 1923 to 1978 with small seal "Li" (rect., relief). Inscriptions often note occasion when the insect was painted or from where it was copied from. Many of the insects were copied from Ziru 子如 (Qi Liangkun 齊良琨, 1902–1956) and have Qi's notes transcribed as an inscription.
Final inscription at lower left dated to the 5th day of the 5th month 1978 with seal "Li Wenxue" (tall rect., relief). Inscription notes that Li began painting insects when he was 58 sui by copying Ziru's remaining works [Ziru's painting followed the style of his father Qi Baisshi (1863–1956) who is mentioned in some of the inscriptions]. Ziru was a dear friend and had visited often. It was now 55 years since they had last seen each other.
Top-piece (shitang)
Zhu Yongzhai 朱庸齋 (1920–1983) [???Pu Zhuo 溥 **], keng-shen year, 1980
Seal – "Yongzhai shuhua" 庸齋書畫
Marks/Labels/Seals
seal: "Yongzhai shuhua" 庸齋書畫 Characters and one seal in ink on label adhered to edge of rolled scroll
Culture
Materials
Subject
–1998 John B. Elliott (Princeton, NJ), by bequest to the Princeton University Art Museum, 1998.
