Large East Asian Ink-Painted Wall Panel

Large fragment of an East Asian wall decoration, painted in ink on antique textile and probably dating from the late 19th or early 20th century.

The composition depicts an expansive mountainous landscape populated by pine trees, pavilions and small boats. To the right, a procession of figures moves across the terrain, while successive mountain ranges gradually dissolve into the almost untouched areas of the textile. The scene draws on the vocabulary of traditional Chinese landscape painting, in which architecture and human figures appear deliberately small in relation to the immensity of nature.

The monochrome decoration alternates between delicate lines and denser areas of ink. The irregular weave of the textile, its visible seams and the partially faded design now lend the piece an almost abstract quality. Displayed against a black background, it resonates particularly well with contemporary approaches to fragments, materiality and the wabi-sabi aesthetic.

Probably once part of a larger decorative scheme, the textile was originally attached or mounted directly onto a wall. After being removed, it was re-stretched and secured with small nails to a 5 mm black MDF panel. Its irregular outline and the remnants of plaster or paint around the edges bear witness to its former architectural use.

The textile may also be purchased without its black backing, either to facilitate shipping—particularly internationally—or to allow its future owner to choose a different method of display. In this configuration, it will be shipped rolled around a large-diameter tube rather than folded.

The piece shows considerable signs of age and previous handling, including wear, creases, stains, small holes and tears, visible seams, areas of loss, nail holes and partial fading of the decoration. These irregularities are an integral part of its character as an antique fragment.

Dimensions:

Textile: H. 123 × W. 90 cm
With black panel: H. 142 × W. 111 cm