Landscape in the Styles of Ni Zan and Huang Gongwang

One of the early Qing orthodox masters, Wang Yuanqi often integrated in his work the styles of two great Yuan dynasty masters, Ni Zan (1301–1374) and Huang Gongwang (1269–1354). Wang’s composition, a sparse riverscape divided by a wide expanse of water, is modeled on Ni Zan’s work. But the mountain masses and rocks, built up of accumulated brushstrokes and dry washes, are typical of Huang Gongwang’s work. The use of large areas of untouched surface as a compositional device is one of the innovative aspects of Wang’s own work. His inscription partially reads: “Jinglu, my old friend and grandson of my paternal aunt . . . has received an official promotion and is on his way to begin his new duties, so I made a great effort, working in the style of Ni [Zan] and Huang [Gongwang], to send my congratulations to him posthaste.”