Artist: Wang Hui (1632-1717)

Date: Qing (1641-1911)

Dimensions: Height 321.0 cm, Width 92.0 cm (each)

Material: Ink or ink and colour on paper or silk

• Object Type：
  • PAINTINGS
• Location：
  • Chinese Painting Gallery
• Tag：
  • album leaf wang hui qing ink ink and colour paper silk

"Xiao zhong xian da (Greatness in the small)" was originally a Buddhist term. In the later Ming dynasty, this idea contained within was borrowed and advocated by Dong Qichang as a method of learning traditional Chinese landscape painting. Through painting on album leaves after the artworks from the Five Dynasties period to the Yuan dynasty, the artist could internalize the brushstrokes and composition methods of ancient masters. This approach prepares an artist to draw upon old traditions while expressing personal feelings. Wang Shimin inherited this teaching method from Dong Qichang; so many of his students, including Wang Hui and Wu Li, painted albums of this theme.