The Delphi Museum of Modern Art
Five Thousand Needles Reaching for Heaven
By: Song LiqiuMedium: Ink on silk
Song Liqiu stood apart from her contemporaries in a tradition that had thus far been dominated by men. Stylistically, her artwork can be likened to the artwork of her mentor Zhao Li and to the other brush-painted landscapes of her time. These pieces were often limited in palette to draw sharp focus to the unchangeable, core essence of a landscape, removed from transient distractions. However, while the themes depicted in her artwork are similar to those depicted by her male peers, the intent behind her artwork was fiercely feminist. Scholars believe that this particular piece was an expression of yearning as Song struggled to fill the roles of mother and artist.
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