Artwork
明 唐寅 葦渚醉漁圖 軸|Drunken fisherman by a reed bank
明 唐寅 葦渚醉漁圖 軸|Drunken fisherman by a reed bank is an ink painting by the Ming dynasty painting artist Tang Yin. It dates from 1497 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
The work is classified as a painting within the landscape genre, with its subject matter centered on a boat amid vegetation along a reed bank.
Drunken fisherman by a reed bank is executed in ink on paper and mounted as a hanging scroll, a format consistent with Ming-dynasty literati painting traditions. The work is classified as a painting within the landscape genre, with its subject matter centered on a boat amid vegetation along a reed bank. Tang Yin produced the scroll in 1497, and it now belongs to the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The monochrome ink handling on paper, combined with the vertical hanging-scroll format, reflects the brush-centered aesthetic favored by Ming scholar-artists, allowing for layered washes and calligraphic line work suited to rendering reeds, water, and a small fishing vessel.
History & Provenance
Drunken fisherman by a reed bank was created by Tang Yin in 1497 during the Ming dynasty, executed as a hanging scroll in ink on paper. The work is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and is classified as a painting within the landscape genre. While the specific inventory or accession number is not provided in the available records, the artwork is documented as part of the museum's permanent collection. No commission, intermediate ownership, acquisition history, or exhibition history is recorded in the available sources.
Overview
This landscape painting, "Drunken fisherman by a reed bank," was created by Tang Yin in 1497. Rendered with ink on paper as a hanging scroll, the work presents a tranquil scene. It features a lone figure dozing in a small boat, enveloped by a dense growth of reeds.
The composition evokes a sense of quietude and personal retreat within nature, characteristic of certain Ming dynasty artistic sensibilities.
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays a solitary individual, presumably a fisherman, in a state of deep repose within his boat. He is depicted not engaged in labor, but rather sleeping, perhaps having indulged in wine. This imagery aligns with a broader artistic tradition of the Ming dynasty, which often celebrated moments of simple pleasure, detachment from worldly concerns, and the serene enjoyment of the natural environment.
Context
Created during the Ming dynasty, "Drunken fisherman by a reed bank" reflects a prevalent artistic interest in depicting individuals finding solace in natural settings. During this era, artists frequently explored themes of withdrawal from societal pressures and the appreciation of unadorned moments. The image of a resting, possibly inebriated, figure in a secluded landscape embodies this cultural inclination towards a leisurely, unburdened existence.
Artist & collection
Artist
Tang Yin (Chinese: 唐寅; pinyin: Táng Yín; Cantonese Yale: Tong Yan; 6 March 1470 – 7 January 1524), courtesy name Bohu (伯虎) and Ziwei (子畏), was a Chinese painter, calligrapher, and poet of the Ming dynasty period.
