Fishermen-Hermits in Stream and Mountain, 1300s. Aspiring to free and harmonious living in the natural world was a recurring theme in traditional Chinese landscapes, especially paintings by gentleman-scholars. The fisherman-hermit in this painting symbolizes the ideal of a humble rural life to escape the dusty world. The Confucian principle also demanded that artists have high moral character. To retreat from fame and pursue a simple, bucolic life was always a lofty dream. This painting was originally attributed to artist Zhao Yong, but has been recently reattributed to Wu Zhen.

---

Size: 2443px × 5000px
Photo credit: © Heritage Images / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: 1271-1368, 1280-1354, art, china, chinese, cleveland, colour, dynasty, hanging, heritage, ink, museum, painting, scroll, silk, wu, yuan, zhen