Who painted 南宋李結西塞漁社圖卷 |Fisherman's Lodge At Mount Xisai?

南宋李結西塞漁社圖卷 |Fisherman's Lodge At Mount Xisai was painted by Li Jie in ca. 1170.

Where can I see 南宋李結西塞漁社圖卷 |Fisherman's Lodge At Mount Xisai?

南宋李結西塞漁社圖卷 |Fisherman's Lodge At Mount Xisai is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is 南宋李結西塞漁社圖卷 |Fisherman's Lodge At Mount Xisai?

南宋李結西塞漁社圖卷 |Fisherman's Lodge At Mount Xisai is associated with Song dynasty landscape.

Artwork

南宋李結西塞漁社圖卷 |Fisherman's Lodge At Mount Xisai

Li Jie , 1170

南宋李結西塞漁社圖卷 |Fisherman's Lodge At Mount Xisai is an ink painting by the Song dynasty landscape artist Li Jie. It dates from 1170 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The depicted mountain thus serves both as a literal setting and a symbolic refuge.

The handscroll Fisherman's Lodge at Mount Xisai, painted by Li Jie in 1170, presents a tranquil mountain scene centered on a modest lodge beside a winding stream. The composition emphasizes a solitary peak rising above mist, a motif traditionally associated with scholarly retreat and spiritual reclusion in Song dynasty art. By situating a simple dwelling within this rugged landscape, the work conveys a harmonious balance between human habitation and the natural world, reflecting Daoist ideals of modest living and contemplative peace. The depicted mountain thus serves both as a literal setting and a symbolic refuge.

Technique & Style

The painting is a Southern Song handscroll by Li Jie, executed in ink and color on silk in 1170. As a handscroll it is meant to be unrolled gradually, allowing a sequential reading of the composition. The work belongs to the landscape genre and portrays a mountain within a broader landscape, reflecting the Southern Song emphasis on naturalistic representation and subtle tonal modulation.

Its formal qualities include layered spatial depth achieved through gradations of ink wash and restrained use of color that accentuates the lyrical quality of the scene. The piece is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art collection and was created in China.

History & Provenance

The handscroll titled Fisherman's Lodge at Mount Xisai was created by the Southern Song artist Li Jie in the year 1170. Executed in ink and color on silk, the work depicts a landscape featuring mountainous terrain and is part of the collection held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. While the specific commission details and the full chain of ownership prior to its arrival at the museum are not detailed in the provided sources, the work is firmly dated to the late 12th century and stands as a significant example of Southern Song landscape painting attributed directly to Li Jie.

The sources do not specify an inventory or accession number, nor do they document any exhibition history for the work.

Overview

Created in 1170 by the Southern Song court painter Li Jie, Fisherman's Lodge at Mount Xisai is a handscroll executed in ink and light color on silk. The work depicts a serene landscape centered on a fishing lodge nestled beneath pine trees along a winding river, with misty mountains receding into the distance. Li Jie employs a delicate, restrained brushwork style characteristic of the Southern Song academy, where subtle gradations of ink wash create atmospheric depth and a sense of quietude.

The composition guides the viewer's eye horizontally across the scroll, revealing the scene gradually as it is unrolled, a format designed for intimate, sequential viewing. This painting exemplifies the Southern Song aesthetic preference for lyrical, poetic landscapes that emphasize the harmony between human habitation and nature, often evoking the reclusive ideals of the scholar-official class. It stands as a significant example of Li Jie's career, demonstrating his mastery in balancing detailed architectural elements with expansive, mist-shrouded natural settings.

Context

Produced in 12th-century China during the Southern Song dynasty, "Fisherman's Lodge At Mount Xisai" belongs to a rich tradition of landscape painting. During this period, artists often depicted natural scenes that reflected philosophical ideals of harmony with nature and the pursuit of scholarly reclusion. The handscroll format itself was a prevalent mode for experiencing such detailed and contemplative works.