Zhao Zuo

**Zhao Zuo** (Chinese: 赵左; c. 1570–after 1633) was a noted Ming dynasty painter from Huating (present-day Songjiang, Shanghai). His style name was Wendu. He specialized in literati-style landscapes executed with a rich yet pure brushstroke technique.

Zhao followed the painter Song Xu and became one of the leading representatives of the Su Song Style (苏松派), a regional school of landscape painting centered in the Suzhou-Songjiang area. His work also drew from the manner of his contemporary Dong Qichang, emphasizing refined brushwork and scholarly ideals over ornate detail.

Among his documented works is the hanging scroll *Landscape of Quick Water from High Mountain* (1611), now in the Shanghai Museum. Another example, a signed hanging scroll in ink and light color on paper, resides in the collection of the Art Gallery of New South Wales. These pieces exemplify his characteristic approach to mountain-and-stream compositions.

Zhao Zuo’s contributions helped sustain and transmit the literati landscape tradition during the late Ming period. His paintings continue to be studied and collected for their technical purity and connection to the Su Song School, securing his place among the era’s respected regional masters.