Artwork
南宋 佚名 倣馬遠 松陰玩月圖 冊頁|Viewing the Moon under a Pine Tree
南宋 佚名 倣馬遠 松陰玩月圖 冊頁|Viewing the Moon under a Pine Tree is an ink painting by Ma Yuan. It dates from 1216 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This album leaf, rendered in ink and color on silk in 1216, presents a contemplative landscape.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The composition thus conveys a meditative engagement with the cosmos, inviting viewers to share in the quiet observation of the moon.
The painting shows a solitary pine tree beneath which a figure contemplates the moon, set within a quiet landscape. This subject belongs to the Song dynasty literati tradition of depicting nature as a backdrop for reflective thought. The pine, rendered in ink with subtle color on silk, functions as a visual anchor that frames the nocturnal scene, emphasizing stillness and scholarly contemplation.
An anonymous Southern Song work painted in the manner of the court master Ma Yuan and dated to 1216, it exemplifies the era's landscape genre, where natural elements symbolize endurance and the pursuit of harmony. The composition thus conveys a meditative engagement with the cosmos, inviting viewers to share in the quiet observation of the moon.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1216, this work is an album leaf painted with ink and color on a silk support, in the style of Ma Yuan. The piece exemplifies Southern Song landscape painting through its depiction of a pine and natural scenery. The composition utilizes the specific material qualities of silk to render the atmospheric effects characteristic of the period.
As a small-scale format measuring approximately 25.4 cm in both height and width, the artwork functions as an intimate viewing object. The application of pigment and ink on the textile ground demonstrates the handling techniques associated with the Ma Yuan style, focusing on the interplay between the pine tree and the moonlit environment within a confined spatial arrangement.
History & Provenance
The album leaf is held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, where it is catalogued as Viewing the Moon under a Pine Tree under accession number 1973.121.1. It has been shown in the Museum's rotating displays of its Chinese painting collection, though specific exhibition records are not detailed in the available sources.
Overview
This album leaf, rendered in ink and color on silk in 1216, presents a contemplative landscape. Titled Viewing the Moon under a Pine Tree, the work features a solitary figure observing the night sky. It exemplifies the aesthetic principles of the Southern Song dynasty and is closely linked to the Ma-Xia school, a significant artistic movement of the period known for its distinctive landscape compositions.
Context
This painting reflects the stylistic innovations of the Ma-Xia school, co-founded by the influential painter Ma Yuan, who was active from approximately 1160 to 1225. This artistic lineage, prominent during the Southern Song dynasty, was renowned for its distinctive landscape compositions, often featuring asymmetrical arrangements and a focus on specific details. Although attributed to an anonymous artist, the work clearly emulates Ma Yuan's approach, demonstrating the enduring impact of his aesthetic.
Artist & collection
Artist
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…
