Jian Guzhai

Jian Guzhai was an artist whose documented activity spanned the early to mid-nineteenth century, operating between the years 1800 and 1871. Their recorded output consists primarily of ink drawings and inscribed ink tablets, suggesting a practice centered on the aesthetics and nomenclature of scholarly contemplation.

The artist’s work is held in major institutional collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art. A total of 15 drawings and related inscriptions are currently represented in these holdings, providing insight into nineteenth-century East Asian artistic practices.

Jian Guzhai’s subjects often detail the naming conventions and designs for scholarly studios. Among the works preserved in collections are the inscribed tablets Ink tablet inscribed “Melodious Harp Studio”, Ink tablet inscribed “Room for Meditating on Painting”, and Ink tablet inscribed “Three Rarities Hall”. Other notable drawings include Cherishing Elegance Studio and Clear Void Tower.

These documented Jian Guzhai prints and drawings contribute significantly to the artistic record of the period. Such works are often digitized, making them accessible as high-quality prints for researchers and general viewing in the public domain.