Fan Kuan
Chinese·960–1030
No Portrait Available
Fan Kuan (c. 960-c. 1030) was a Chinese landscape painter of the early Northern Song Dynasty, revered as one of the supreme masters of Chinese painting. Little is known of his life except that he was a recluse who studied nature directly in the mountains of Shaanxi province.
His masterwork, Travelers Among Mountains and Streams (c. 1000), in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, is often called the greatest Chinese landscape painting. A massive mountain face dominates the composition, dwarfing tiny travelers below. His hidden signature, discovered in 1958, confirmed the attribution of this monumental work.
Notable Works by Fan Kuan
1 painting catalogued with museum locations
Museums with Fan Kuan's Work
1 museum displays Kuan's works. Click any museum to see visiting info and the specific works they hold.
About Fan Kuan
Travelers Among Mountains and Streams (c. 1000) at Taipei's National Palace Museum is often called the greatest Chinese landscape painting. A towering mountain face dominates the composition while tiny travelers move below.
The masterwork is at the National Palace Museum, Taipei. Fan Kuan's authenticated works are extremely rare, making this painting one of the most treasured objects in Chinese art.
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