Title:
2 Album Leaves: Figures in Landscapes
Creator:
Jen I (Po-nien)
Subject:
Chinese Paintings
Figures
Description:
t: Hsiao-lou
Jen I (also known as Jen Po-nien) was a native of Shao-hsing, Chechiang province, but worked in Suchou and finally settled
in Shanghai, where he became one of the major figures in the Haipai, the Shanghai School of Painting. He was an extremely
versatile artist who mastered portraiture and bird-and-flower painting as well as landscapes. He studied painting with the
famous Jen Hsün, a brother to Jen Hsiung (together the artists make up three of the famous "Four Jens"). He followed Ch'en
Hung-shou's example in figure painting.
"Jen I is an interesting case. He is the great figure master working in Shanghai in the 1880s. He died fairly young, [but]
was extremely prolific. He was one of those painters who could never do anything without making it his own, without being
original. There was a constant creative energy and refusal to just repeat old patterns. He was a brilliant artist, a little
facile sometimes, but many of his works are absolutely wonderful."
Publisher:
Berkeley Art Museum/Pacific Film Archive
Date:
19 century A.D.
Type:
image
Format:
Painting
ink and color on paper
China
h 7 -7/8 x w 9 -5/8 inches
Identifier:
CC.102
Coverage:
China
Jen I (Po-nien) - 2 Album Leaves: Figures in Landscapes