Eight Immortals of the Wine Cup
Artist
Hua Shan (Chinese, active 18th century)
Date
18th-19th centuryMedium
Ink, color on paperDimensions
Image : 54 3/4 x 27 5/8 in. (1.4 m x 70.17 cm)
Frame : 60 x 34 1/2 in. (1.5 m x 87.63 cm)Credit Line
Gift of David Kamansky and Gerald WheatonObject Number
2014.23.178
Label
Many traditional Chinese writers and artists believed that drinking wine opened them to inspiration and unleashed their creativity. The Tang dynasty poet Du Fu (712-770) wrote a verse titled “Eight Immortals of the Wine Cup” about eight of his contemporaries who were particularly fond of alcohol. This painting draws upon the imagery of that famous poem to depict a boozy group of scholars relaxing and engaging in various cultural pursuits.