Beggars and Street Characters

Zhou Chen’s ‘Beggars and Street Characters’ dates to 1516. This handscroll uses ink and light color on paper. It depicts various figures from the margins of society. Cleveland Museum of Art.

The handscroll is from the Ming dynasty, measuring over 3 meters in length. It captures detailed expressions and attire of each figure, emphasizing individuality.

Zhou Chen was active during the middle Ming dynasty. He was known for his landscapes and human figure paintings. Two of his students, Tang Yin and Qiu Ying, became famous artists.

Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Ohio, https://clevelandart.org/art/1964.94

https://oolf.net/open-art/chen-beggars-and-street-characters-1516/