An artwork on Galleree from Minneapolis Institute of Art.
About the artwork
Misty River and Layered PeaksWanli period, 1608
Artist: Gu Deyi
active 1608-1633
water bodies and seaways wind through seaside villages and around island oasis; throughout fishermen and birds speckle the water with activity
8 7/8 x 368 in. (22.54 x 934.72 cm) (image)
Ink and color on paper
Hand scroll
China
17th century
Gift of funds from Joan Wurtele
In the tranquil embrace of nature, a handscroll unfolds before us, revealing a landscape where riverbanks meet gentle heights, and life dances along the banks of an ample waterway. The scene is a panorama of harmony, with trees standing tall and proud, their leaves whispering secrets to the soft breeze. Quaint houses dot the shore, anchors of a simple life, while delicate bridges span the river, connecting souls and stories. Each figure captured on the scroll breathes life into the setting, echoing the laughter, labor, and love that flows just like the river itself.
Across the shimmering waters, rolling hills rise and fall, gracefully curving to the left, as if they’re drifting between the endless sky above and the tranquil water below. The artist, with skilled hand and keen eye, allows us to peer into this world—a vision both vivid and ordinary, yet somehow tinged with a sense of transcendent beauty that lingers just out of reach.
Perched upon a rugged cliff, a thatched pavilion stands proudly near a cascading waterfall, a familiar motif that resonates throughout Chinese art. It draws us in, inviting contemplation. This pavilion pays homage to Ni Zan, a luminary of the Yuan dynasty, whose artistry often captured such serene retreats. Ni Zan was a man set apart, choosing the solace of nature over the turbulence of his time. In an era when Mongolia held dominion over China, he sought refuge in the embrace of the wild, retreating from a court that demanded conformity. His rejection of societal expectations was a form of defiance, a pursuit of purity that echoed in the hearts of many.
Scholars of his time cherished this motif—the pavilion upon the cliff—as a tribute to Ni Zan’s spirit of hermitage. It symbolizes not just a physical sanctuary, but an inner journey toward peace amidst chaos. Through the lens of the artist, we connect with this profound longing for tranquility, feeling the resonance of nature's unyielding embrace, and understanding that within the simplicity of a quiet scene lies a depth of meaning waiting to be unearthed.
About the artist
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