two men in a boat--one standing, one seated; seated bearded man at left wears a grey cap and holds up a white fan; hunched-over standing man at right has white hair and wears a straw hat; basket with orange fruits in boat; plants at bottom, center and right

Album leaf, c. 1875

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For this leaf, the artist shows a boat just as its oarsman poles it into view. An old gentleman sits in the prow, gazing into the distance. His hat is of a kind associated with Su Shi, a renowned Northern Song poet and statesman and also a popular theme of Chinese painting, but it would probably be a mistake to think that the leaf illustrates any particular poem by the poet. Rather, the Su Shi reference turns the passenger into an emblem of poetic sensibility. It is a painting of so-called yuyin (“reclusion in a fishing boat”), a theme concerning eremitism rather than fishing. Those seen on boats are not fishermen but scholar-recluses who are escaping an official career, fame and other social burdens.

Details
Title
Album leaf
Artist Life
1833 - 1911
Role
Artist
Accession Number
2013.13.4
Curator Approved

This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.

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two men in a boat--one standing, one seated; seated bearded man at left wears a grey cap and holds up a white fan; hunched-over standing man at right has white hair and wears a straw hat; basket with orange fruits in boat; plants at bottom, center and right