River and Sky in Evening Snow, final leaf from an album of eight paintings on the theme of the Eight Views of the Xiao and Xiang region

This winter landscape, according to Zhang Kai’s inscription, is an imitation of the brush ideas (biyi) of Eight Views of the Xiao and Xiang Rivers painted by Song Di (act. 1015-1080). Northern Song scholar-painter Song Di is credited as the creator of the eight scenes, which were popular among the literati elite. This theme later became popular not only in China, but also in Korea and Japan. In 1745, emperor Qianlong commissioned the painter-official Dong Bangda (1699-1769) to make a copy of the handscroll Eight Views of Xiao and Xiang by Ma Yuan (act. 1189-1225), then in the imperial collection. As a court painter in the Qianlong period, Zhang Kai’s album leaf could have also been painted for the emperor.

Zhang Kai was a native of Suzhou. He served in the painting academy of the Qianlong and Jiaqing periods (1736-1820), holding the post of supervisor and receiving the salary of a second rank official. His specialties are landscape and flower-and-bird paintings.

INSCRIPTION: RIVER AND SKY IN EVENING SNOW
江空暮雪
辛夘夏日，仿宋復古瀟湘八景啚筆意。
張愷謹畫
印：「臣」「張愷」
River and Sky in Evening Snow
In the summer of 1771, imitating the style of Eight Views of Xiaoxiang by Sòng Fùgǔ* and following [his] ideas of brushwork.
Respectfully painted by Zhāng Kǎi.
Seal: Minister Zhāng Kǎi
* A name for Sòng Dí 宋迪 (act. 1015–1080), who was among the first to paint the popular subject of Eight Views of the Xiao and Xiang Region; he developed what became the standard poetic titles for each scene.