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Buddha, after an image at the Mogao Caves, Dunhuang

A work made of hanging scroll, ink and color on paper.

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  • A work made of hanging scroll, ink and color on paper.

Date:

1944

Artist:

Xie Zhiliu
Chinese, 1910-1997

About this artwork

In the early 1940s, the renowned painter, connoisseur, and art historian Xie Zhiliu devoted more than a year to close research of the Mogao caves in Dunhuang, China’s grandest repository of Buddhist art. During his study, Xie copied several wall paintings to create his own images, including the one shown here. This deity’s finely rendered outline and fully rounded proportions evoke a style that is distinctive to Dunhuang murals datable to the 7th century. However, Xie clearly enhanced this figure with original artistic elements: naturalistic skin tones, carefully graded shading, and decorative scrollwork along the borders of the Buddha’s drapery folds.

Status

Currently Off View

Department

Arts of Asia

Artist

Xie Zhiliu

Title

Buddha, after an image at the Mogao Caves, Dunhuang

Place

China (Artist's nationality:)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

1944

Medium

Hanging scroll, ink and color on paper

Dimensions

130 × 47.5 cm (51 3/16 × 18 3/4 in.); Mount: 236 × 66 cm (92 15/16 × 26 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of Dr. George Fan

Reference Number

2004.749

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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