Landscapes for Liu Songfu Possibly 1644 - 1911

Xugu made these ink-on-paper landscapes for Liu Songfu sometime in the late 19th century. Xugu was a Chan Buddhist monk, known for his unconventional approach to painting, but here we see a traditional Chinese landscape, a genre with ancient roots that served as a vehicle for self-cultivation. This would have been closely tied to the Chinese class system. The elite literati class studied calligraphy, poetry, and painting as a means of refining their moral character and asserting their social status. Here, the lone figure on the bridge contemplates the scenery before him. The landscapes reflect a longing for a simpler, more harmonious existence, far from the corruption and upheaval of the late Qing Dynasty. To understand this work more fully, we can consult historical texts, biographies of the artist and patron, and studies of Chinese art theory and social history. This reveals the ways that art reflects and shapes cultural values.