Artist: Zhao Zuo (before 1604-before 1639)

Date: Ming (1368-1644)

Dimensions: Height 18.0 cm, Width 55.8 cm

Material: Ink and color on paper

• Object Type：
  • PAINTINGS
• Location：
  • The Painting and Calligraphy of Shanghai Gallery
• Tag：
  • palm tree red bamboo snow album leaf zhao zuo ming ink and color paper

Zhao Zuo (before 1604-before 1639), also known by his zi (designated name) Wendu, was a native of Huating (in present-day Songjiang, Shanghai). He and his townsman Song Maojin both studied painting after Song Xu (1525-after 1606), who settled in Songjiang. Skilled in landscape painting, Zhao Zuo was close to Dong Qichang with frequent artistic exchange and occasionally served as Dong's ghost-painter. This work depicts palm tree in snow and red bamboo. The subjects were intended to challenge conventions, but the artist thought that the palm trees were still green in winter in southern China, and the red bamboo was recorded in ancient books. Therefore, ancient Chinese artists actually painted after the actual objects in nature.

【Special Exhibition】 An Everlasting Spring: The Art of Painting and Calligraphy in Shanghai