Who painted 元趙原 (元) 晴川送客圖軸|Farewell by a Stream on a Clear Day?

元趙原 (元) 晴川送客圖軸|Farewell by a Stream on a Clear Day was painted by Zhao Yuan in second half 14th century.

Where can I see 元趙原 (元) 晴川送客圖軸|Farewell by a Stream on a Clear Day?

元趙原 (元) 晴川送客圖軸|Farewell by a Stream on a Clear Day is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is 元趙原 (元) 晴川送客圖軸|Farewell by a Stream on a Clear Day?

元趙原 (元) 晴川送客圖軸|Farewell by a Stream on a Clear Day is associated with Yuan dynasty literati painting.

Artwork

元趙原 (元) 晴川送客圖軸|Farewell by a Stream on a Clear Day

Zhao Yuan , 1374

元趙原 (元) 晴川送客圖軸|Farewell by a Stream on a Clear Day is an ink painting by the Yuan dynasty literati painting artist Zhao Yuan. It dates from 1374 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

Visually, the work shows a boat on a winding stream framed by mountains under an open sky, characteristic of a Chinese landscape composition.

The painting’s title identifies the scene as a farewell taking place by a stream on a clear day. Visually, the work shows a boat on a winding stream framed by mountains under an open sky, characteristic of a Chinese landscape composition. As a hanging scroll in ink on paper, it exemplifies the landscape genre while conveying the moment of departure through its setting of water and distant peaks and tranquil atmosphere.

Technique & Style

Farewell by a Stream on a Clear Day (1374) by Zhao Yuan is executed as a hanging scroll using ink on paper, a conventional medium and support for Yuan dynasty literati landscapes []. The monochrome ink technique emphasizes tonal gradations, from pale washes to dense, dry brushwork, to model mountains, trees, and water without reliance on color []. Stylistically, the composition adheres to the Yuan tradition of layered recession: near foreground elements such as boats and figures are rendered with fine, controlled lines, while distant peaks dissolve into misty, diluted strokes []. The handling is spare yet deliberate, reflecting the artist’s literati aesthetic of restraint and expressive brushwork [].

History & Provenance

Zhao Yuan's hanging scroll Farewell by a Stream on a Clear Day was created in 1374, a date confirmed by both the Met's catalogue entry and the Wikidata record for the work. The painting is executed in ink on paper in the landscape genre and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is currently located. No information in the provided sources addresses an earlier ownership chain, a specific commission, or intermediate provenance prior to the Met's acquisition, nor do they document any subsequent exhibition history.

The hanging scroll Farewell by a Stream on a Clear Day by Zhao Yuan, dated 1374, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. While the provided sources confirm the work's location within this major institution and its creation in China during the Yuan dynasty, they do not supply a specific inventory or accession number for the piece. Furthermore, the available records contain no details regarding the painting's exhibition history, prior ownership, or provenance trail leading to its current residence at the museum.

Overview

Titled Farewell by a Stream on a Clear Day, this ink painting by Zhao Yuan from the Yuan Dynasty is presented as a hanging scroll. It depicts a serene landscape featuring misty mountains and a delicate waterfall. In the foreground, a small group of travelers engages in a farewell by a flowing stream, set against the expansive natural environment.