Who painted 明沈周夜雨泊舟圖軸|Anchorage on a Rainy Night?

明沈周夜雨泊舟圖軸|Anchorage on a Rainy Night was painted by Shen Zhou in 1477.

Where can I see 明沈周夜雨泊舟圖軸|Anchorage on a Rainy Night?

明沈周夜雨泊舟圖軸|Anchorage on a Rainy Night is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is 明沈周夜雨泊舟圖軸|Anchorage on a Rainy Night?

明沈周夜雨泊舟圖軸|Anchorage on a Rainy Night is associated with Ming dynasty painting.

Artwork

明沈周夜雨泊舟圖軸|Anchorage on a Rainy Night

Shen Zhou , 1477

明沈周夜雨泊舟圖軸|Anchorage on a Rainy Night is an ink painting by the Ming dynasty painting artist Shen Zhou. It dates from 1477 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

History & Provenance

It is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, classified within the museum's Paintings department under the landscape genre.

Anchorage on a Rainy Night is a landscape painting created by the Ming dynasty artist Shen Zhou in 1477. Executed as a hanging scroll in ink on paper, the work depicts a mountainous scene and was produced in China during the late 15th century, in Shen Zhou's mature period. It is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, classified within the museum's Paintings department under the landscape genre. The available documentation does not disclose an accession number, full provenance, or exhibition history for the piece.

Overview

Anchorage on a Rainy Night (夜雨泊舟圖), created by Shen Zhou in 1477, is an ink on paper hanging scroll. This landscape painting captures a tranquil moment amidst a storm, featuring a small boat moored by a dark shore and mountains receding into a misty distance. It exemplifies the artist's approach to natural scenes, rendered with a distinctive calligraphic brushwork.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on a solitary small boat, securely tied to a dark, indistinct shore. Above, jagged mountain forms gradually dissolve into an atmospheric mist, suggesting depth and distance. The depiction of rain is subtle, conveyed not by drawn lines but by the paper's untouched surface where thin ink washes recede, creating an impression of a quiet, pervasive downpour rather than a violent tempest.

Technique & Style

Shen Zhou executed this work in a single sitting, relying on memory rather than preliminary sketches. This spontaneous approach is evident in the fluid application of ink on paper. A notable technique involves leaving areas of the paper blank to represent the falling rain, allowing the unpainted surface to suggest the visual effect of water streaking like wet glass. This method contributes to the painting's serene atmosphere, portraying a storm that feels hushed and contemplative.

清　王翬　溪山雨霽圖　軸|Clearing after Rain over Streams and Mountains, Wang Hui

Artist & collection

Artist

Shen Zhou

Shen Zhou spent his life in the Suzhou region of China, where his family’s money and connections mattered more than art, until it did.

Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art

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