Whirling Snow on the Riverbank

The depiction of a man boating toward a riverbank is traditionally associated with the subject of reclusion from urban life. During times of political or social turmoil, many of the educated elite chose to retreat to remote mountains, seeking distance from corrupt urban society as a means to purify their spirit. Such idealistic pursuits inspired many Ming artists in their choice of subjects.

Lan Ying, a scholar-painter from Hangzhou in southeastern China, portrays a mountain hermit wearing a fisherman’s hat and a red cloak. The red color, often seen in court uniforms, was used here to indicate his status as a scholar-official. On a table in his pavilion-studio along the riverside are an ancient bronze vessel and a water container for making ink, alluding to his study of the classics. Lan creates this winter scene using inkless areas to suggest snow piles, appearing over the roofs of the studio, rocky hills, and the boathouse.