Min Zhen

CHINA, Jiangxi, Nanchang; Qing dynasty

Min Zhen, also known as Zheng Zhai or Min Aizi, was a painter born in Nanchang, Jiangxi, but lived most of his life in Guangji, Hubei. After being orphaned at a young age, he began painting portraits of his deceased parents as a means of coping with his loss. Later he painted landscapes, flowers, and birds, as well as Buddhist subjects.
His depictions of arhats are reminiscent of the drawings of Li Gonglin. Min’s own style of ink painting is delicate and appears serene and relaxed. His painting of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva and Attendants utilizes the ancient techniques of extremely fine-lined painting, iron-wire drawing, and orchid petal coloring. The character depictions are precise and varied. His other painting, Picking Mulberries, featuring similar characteristics, is now kept at the Palace Museum in Beijing.