Artwork Page for Portrait of a Monk

Details / Information for Portrait of a Monk

Portrait of a Monk

僧人畫像

1948

Feng Chaoran 馮超然

(Chinese, 1882–1954)

and Zheng Mukang 鄭慕康

(Chinese, 1901–1982)
Culture
China, Republican era (1912–49)
Medium
Hanging scroll; ink and color on paper
Measurements
Overall with knobs: 177.8 x 63.5 cm (70 x 25 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Dr. Matthew Edlund 2025.204
Copyright
Copyright
This artwork is known to be under copyright.
Location
240A Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy
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Did You Know?

The lotus-shaped utensil hanging from the tree appears to be an incense burner.

Description

A monk in a red robe is seated under a fig (bodhi) tree. He slipped off his shoes to cross his legs in a meditative position. His fly whisk conveys wisdom and authority, while the halo may allude to a person deceased. The unidentified sitter’s face was drawn by portraitist Zheng Mukang in a photorealistic manner; the tree and body were painted by Feng Chaoran who was Wu Hufan’s neighbor in Shanghai.
A hanging scroll in ink and color depicts a monk with light skin tone seated cross-legged on dark, angular rocks. He wears a red robe over gray garments, a solid white halo glowing behind his head. He sits beneath gnarled trees with heavily textured bark. To the left, a bowl hangs from a branch, while blue shoes rest below. Calligraphy and red seals mark the scene, and jagged rocks ground the lower right corner.

Portrait of a Monk

1948

Feng Chaoran, Zheng Mukang

(Chinese, 1882–1954), (Chinese, 1901–1982)
China, Republican era (1912–49)

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