Boatman in Rocky Cove
Medium
Fan mounted as an album leaf; ink on silk
Dimensions
8 7/16 x 9 7/8 in. (21.4 x 25.1 cm)
Classification
Paintings
Culture & Period
China · Ming (1368–1644) or Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
From the Collection of A. W. Bahr, Purchase, Fletcher Fund, 1947
Accession Number
47.18.138
Tags
Art Historical Context
"Boatman in Rocky Cove" a delicate ink painting on silk, originally a fan leaf later mounted as an album leaf Measuring just 8 7/16 x 9 7/8 inches, this intimate work captures a solitary boatman navigating a dramatic rocky inlet, evoking the timeless harmony between humans and nature in Chinese art. Attributed to the legendary Southern Song master Xia Gui—or possibly an unidentified artist working in his style—the piece reflects the ma-xia tradition of bold, abbreviated brushstrokes that suggest mist-shrouded cliffs and turbulent waters with remarkable economy. Created during China's Ming (13...