Wild Geese Amidst Reeds on the Sandbank, Panels
Bian Shoumin
Qing Dynasty
- MEDIUM:Ink and color on paper
- FORMATS:12 Panels
- DIMENSIONS:Height 194.5 cm; Width 53.5 cm
Introduction
Bian Shoumin devoted his life to painting wild geese with expressive ink strokes, earning renown throughout the Jianghuai region and the nickname “Bian the Reed Goose.” Although many of his wild geese paintings have survived, a twelve-panel screen presenting a complete scene is extremely rare. In this work, several wild geese rest among reeds on a sandbank, while others are scattered across the right side—some with heads raised, others bowed, some fluttering wings, and others dipping into the water—rendered with lively and engaging detail. The geese are boldly inked, with subtle touches of colour only on their beaks and feet. The reeds are painted with calligraphic brushwork: bold, dense yet orderly, sparse yet unbroken, with varying ink tones that are both concise and vivid. The swaying reeds and the diverse postures of the geese create a harmonious interplay, while the sandbank and expansive river evoke a sense of depth and spaciousness.
At the age of 62, having returned from Yangzhou to his hometown Huai’an, Bian produced this masterpiece during the prime of his artistic career.
