One Hundred Steps Cloud Ladder (Baibu Yunti)
Ink wash drawing/print on paper, mounted on cardstock • Modern Chinese School; unidentified artist (seals read typically of contemporary landscape painters)
Style & Movement
Traditional Chinese Landscape Painting (Shan Shui) in the Modern Era
Medium & Technique
Ink wash on paper (Shuimo); possibly a high-quality reproduction or lithograph of a traditional literati landscape
Creation Period
Late 20th Century (circa 1970s-1990s)
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 30 x 45 cm; Landscape format with wide margins
Subject Description
A precipitous mountain scene featuring the 'Hundred Steps Cloud Ladder' at Mount Huang (Huangshan). The composition uses negative space to represent mist and clouds, with a vertical cliff face and calligraphic inscription on the left describing the harrowing ascent.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good to Very Good; visible creasing on the secondary paper support but the primary image remains clear
Estimated Market Value
$100 - $300 USD (as a likely high-quality print or minor work)
Auction Estimate
$50 - $150 USD
Provenance History
Likely acquired as part of a portfolio or exhibition set of Huangshan scenes; lacks specific gallery labels but shows standard commercial mounting
Art Historical Significance
Demonstrates the enduring legacy of the Huangshan School of painting into the modern era, emphasizing the 'sea of clouds' motif typical of Anhui province iconography.
Notable Features
Features two red artist seals and a descriptive colophon in semi-cursive script (Xingshu); the printed title at the bottom center suggests this is part of a series.
Condition Issues
Minor surface undulation, slight yellowing of the outer mount, and edge wear on the support board.
Conservation Recommendations
Flattening of the mount, archival framing under UV-protective glass, and humidity control to prevent further paper cockling.