Artwork Page for Absorb the Past; Abandon the Present

Details / Information for Absorb the Past; Abandon the Present

Absorb the Past; Abandon the Present

茹古舍今

1800s–1900s
(Chinese, 1833–1911)
Measurements
44 x 35 cm (17 5/16 x 13 3/4 in.); Each painting: 33 x 33 cm (13 x 13 in.)
Public Domain
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.
Location
Not on view
?

Did You Know?

Leaf four depicts Tao Yuanming, carried by servants in a basket as he had an ailing foot. Tao wrote the Peach Blossom Spring tale, in which a fisherman loses his way and ends up in a utopia.

Description

Qian Huian, active in Shanghai, was best known for his paintings of beautiful women, and historic and mythological figures, rendered in a distinct style. His figures appear eccentric and the color palette pale to pink. The album’s title, Absorb the Past, Abandon the Present, reflect the desire to find refuge in China’s Past, as the country was going through the devastating Taiping rebellion at the time the paintings were created.
An accordion-style album has a silk cover detailed with a dense pattern of small hexagons containing floral motifs in muted red, blue, green, and yellow. A dark brown frame borders the rectangular cover, accented by a gold-flecked strip along the left. Thick, layered edges of internal silk leaves are visible from the side, showing the depth of the folded pages against a neutral grey background.

Absorb the Past; Abandon the Present

1800s–1900s

Qian Hui'an

(Chinese, 1833–1911)
China, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)

See Also

Visually Similar by AI

Contact Us

The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please fill out the appropriate request form linked below:

Update or Correct Artwork Information

Imagery or Rights for Non-Open-Access Artworks

Report a Website Issue

Further Questions About This Artwork