The Hermit Xu You Resting by a Stream
1404
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1404
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
A man in a loose robe sits by a stream, one arm resting on his knee. Mountains rise behind him, while the right side of the painting stays empty and quiet. This is Xu You, a hermit who turned down an emperor’s throne. He’s dressed like a farmer, but his calm face and posture show something deeper—humility mixed with strength. The artist, Dai Jin, worked during a time when Chinese painters often used empty space to suggest peace or wisdom. To see more paintings like this, look up *china, ming dynasty (1368–1644)*.
