Artwork
元 盛懋 秋林漁隱圖 軸|Recluse Fishing by Autumn Trees
元 盛懋 秋林漁隱圖 軸|Recluse Fishing by Autumn Trees is an ink painting by the Yuan dynasty literati painting artist Sheng Mao. It dates from 1350 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The specific inclusion of autumn foliage further contextualizes the scene, suggesting a period of maturity or transition.
Created in 1350, Sheng Mao's hanging scroll depicts a solitary figure engaged in fishing beneath autumnal trees. The composition centers on a man and trees, visually representing the theme of fishing within a landscape setting. This imagery aligns with the traditional iconography of the recluse, where the act of fishing by the water serves as a metaphor for withdrawal from public life and a retreat into seclusion.
The specific inclusion of autumn foliage further contextualizes the scene, suggesting a period of maturity or transition. The work thus functions as a visual embodiment of the hermit ideal, portraying the quietude and self-sufficiency associated with a life removed from societal obligations.
Technique & Style
Created in 1350, Recluse Fishing by Autumn Trees is executed as a hanging scroll using ink on paper. The work functions within the landscape genre, depicting a recluse engaged in fishing amidst trees. While the medium restricts the palette to monochrome ink, the artist employs this material to render the formal qualities of the scene, focusing on the interplay between the human figure and the natural environment.
The support of paper, typical for this format and period, allows for the specific handling of ink washes and line work characteristic of the Yuan dynasty style. The composition centers on the fishing activity and the surrounding arboreal elements, establishing a serene, secluded atmosphere through the arrangement of these depicted subjects.
History & Provenance
The painting Recluse Fishing by Autumn Trees by Sheng Mao (1350) is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, with accession number 1987.14.1 [,]. It has not been recorded in major public exhibitions since its acquisition by the museum.
Overview
Sheng Mao's Recluse Fishing by Autumn Trees, created in 1350, is an ink-on-paper hanging scroll. This ancient landscape painting portrays a solitary figure engaged in fishing amidst a tranquil, tree-lined stream. As one of the rare surviving works by the artist, this piece offers a glimpse into the aesthetic sensibilities of the Yuan dynasty, preserving a moment of quiet contemplation from over six and a half centuries ago.
Artist & collection
