PrintsChinese20th century

I Let Go [of the Snake]

1986

Artists

Chen Haiyan 陳海燕Artist

Description

The coarsely cut woodblock print in black ink is enclosed within vertically oriented rectangle. The print depicts a circular ring in which a figure is holding a snake. Another figure is underneath them, and to his right there is a table. Chinese characters occupy the whole print with some on top of the image.

Classification

Prints

Medium

Woodblock print; ink on pi zhi bast paper

Culture

Chinese

Century

20th century

Division

Asian and Mediterranean Art

Department

Department of Asian Art

Dimensions

image: H. 19.6 × W. 13 cm (7 11/16 × 5 1/8 in.) paper: H. 32.2 × W. 23 cm (12 11/16 × 9 1/16 in.)

Provenance

Chen Haiyan, Hangzhou (1986-2024), sold [through Ink Studio, Beijing, China]; to Harvard Art Museums, 2024.

Related Artworks

Prints

Paper God: Pushing a Cart of Treasures to the Treasure House

Unknown Artist, early 20th century

Woodblock print; ink on paper. Probably from Beijing.

20th centuryChinese

Prints

Door God: General Yuchi Gong (Hu Jingde)

Unknown Artist, early 20th century

Woodblock print; ink and color on paper. Probably from Yangliuqing, Tianjin; possible pair with 1935.36.16.

20th centuryChinese

Prints

Paper God: Earth God Seated in His Shrine with Two Attendants

Unknown Artist, early 20th century

Woodblock print; ink and color on paper; with printed inscription reading: "Zhong Gong Tu Di" ("Palace of the Earth God"). Probably from Lingbao, Henan.

20th centuryChinese

Prints

Paper God: Daoist Goddess of Wisdom for Young Children

Unknown Artist, early 20th century

Woodblock print; ink on paper; with printed inscription reading from right to left: "Yin Meng Niangniang" ("Goddess of Wisdom for Young Children"). Probably from Beijing; part of a possible set of paper gods 1935.36.62-.81.

20th centuryChinese

Prints

Printed Image of a Standing Buddha Flanked by Two Attendants (A Forgery Purporting to Date to the Sui Dynasty)

Unknown Artist, early 20th Century

Hand-colored Buddhist woodblock print; ink and color on paper

Woodblock print; ink on paper

20th centuryChinese

Prints

New Year Print: Two Children Presenting a Treasure Basin of "Cai Yuan Fu Cou" ("Source of Wealth and Good Fortune") and "Huang Jin Wan Liang" ("Ten Thousand Taels of Gold")

Unknown Artist, early 20th century

Woodblock print; ink and color on paper. Probably from Beijing; compare with 1980.92.13.

20th centuryChinese

Prints

Paper God: Immortal Lady of Peach Blossoms

Unknown Artist, early 20th century

Woodblock print; ink on paper; with printed inscription reading from right to left: "Tao Hua Xian Gu" ("Immortal Lady of Peach Blossoms"). Probably from Beijing; part of a possible set of paper gods 1935.36.62-.81.

20th centuryChinese

Prints

Door God: Heavenly Official in "Shou" ("Longevity")-Character Robe, with Two Boys and an Attendant, Presenting a Pomegranate

Unknown Artist, early 20th century

Woodblock print; ink and color on paper. Probably from Beijing; possible pair with 1980.92.6; image identical to 1935.37.19.

20th centuryChinese

Prints

Door God: General Qin Qiong (Qin Shubao)

Unknown Artist, early 20th century

Woodblock print; ink, color and gold on paper. Probably from Yangliuqing, Tianjin; possible pair with 1935.36.36.

20th centuryChinese

Prints

Paper God: Oil God

Unknown Artist, early 20th century

Woodblock print; ink on paper; with printed inscription reading from right to left: "You Xian Zhi Shen" ("Oil God?"). Probably from Beijing; part of a possible set of paper gods 1935.36.62-.81.

20th centuryChinese

Prints

New Year Print: Four Children Presenting a Treasure Basin

Unknown Artist, early 20th century

Woodblock print; ink and color on paper. Probably from Beijing; compare with 1980.92.12.

20th centuryChinese