Who painted Drinking in the Moonlight?

Drinking in the Moonlight was painted by Ma Yuan in 1189-01-01.

Where can I see Drinking in the Moonlight?

Drinking in the Moonlight is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Drinking in the Moonlight?

Drinking in the Moonlight is associated with Song dynasty painting.

Can I buy a print of Drinking in the Moonlight?

Museum-quality prints of Drinking in the Moonlight are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Drinking in the Moonlight

Ma Yuan , 1195

Drinking in the Moonlight is an unspecified painting by the Song dynasty painting artist Ma Yuan. It dates from 1195 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created circa 1195 by Song‑dynasty painter Ma Yuan, Drinking in the Moonlight is a small ink-and-wash work now in the Cleveland Museum of Art. It exemplifies the refined aesthetic of the courtly painting tradition that flourished in the Southern Song period.

Subject & Meaning

The composition depicts a solitary figure seated beside a river, raising a cup to drink beneath a moonlit sky. Sparse boats and trees line the water’s edge, while skeletal branches rise against a pale backdrop, suggesting a moment of quiet contemplation in a nocturnal landscape.

Technique & Style

Ma Yuan employs swift, expressive brushstrokes that convey the ripple of water and the subtle play of light. The palette is restrained, dominated by muted earth tones that dissolve into deep shadows, reinforcing the painting’s serene atmosphere.

History & Provenance

The work entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art in the 20th century, where it remains on view. Its attribution to Ma Yuan is based on stylistic parallels with other dated works from the late 12th century.

Context

Drinking in the Moonlight belongs to the Ma‑Xia school, a branch of Southern Song landscape painting co‑founded by Ma Yuan and Xia Gui. The school emphasized asymmetrical compositions and atmospheric effects, influencing later Chinese artists and the Zhe school, as well as early Japanese painters such as Shūbun and Sesshū.

Waiting for the Ferry on an Autumn River, Qiu Ying

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Artist & collection

Artist

Ma Yuan

Ma Yuan (Chinese: 馬遠; pinyin: Mǎ Yuǎn; Wade–Giles: Ma Yüan; c. 1160–65 – 1225) was a Chinese painter of the Song dynasty. His works, together with that of Xia Gui, formed the basis of the so-called Ma-Xia (馬夏) school of…