Streams, Mountains, Mist, and Trees

Wu Zhen; Streams, Mountains, Mist and Trees; Yuan Dynasty; Location Unknown

Wu Zhen (1280-1354) was a Chinese painter who lived and worked during the Yuan dynasty, and is most well known for his smooth, flowing landscape paintings. Zhen was one of the “Four Masters of the Yuan,” a group of Yuan-Dynasty Chinese painters who were known for being deeply influenced by the styles of the old masters of Chinese landscape painters who were active during the 9th and 10th centuries. Zhen’s signature slopping, smooth and curvy lines were in fact a direct throwback to the style of those older works. The fantastical, less-than-naturalistic nature of his paintings too, hearkens back to the old, traditional style of Chinese landscape paintings.

This particular painting depicts lush wilderness, drifting mists, and majestic, curving mountain peaks. And, like most Chinese landscape paintings, it also includes a lone person, who, I believe, the viewer is meant to “take the place of,” and imagine themselves in the midst of the scenery. I think this work is painted on parchment, and only black ink is used. The level of detail is impressive, and even though the sense of perspective seems a little skewed (as most paintings of this era seem), the grandeur of the scene is undiminished.

I’ve really liked all the Chinese landscape paintings I’ve looked at so far, but I liked this one especially. To me, this one seems slightly less visually “busy” than some, and I think that benefits the painting by letting the attention focus on the beautifully crafted mountain peaks. At the same time though, it isn’t as sparse as some I’ve seen; the intricate brushwork detail of the shrubbery, grass and trees is mesmerizing. It doesn’t overwhelm, though, and it doesn’t call too much attention to the fact that super-realistic perspective was an artistic technique yet to be perfected. The mist hides this especially well, and provides this painting with a wonderful mystical vibe.

(a full view)

http://www.chinaonlinemuseum.com/painting-landscape.php

http://www.chinaonlinemuseum.com/painting-wu-zhen.php

http://www.chinaonlinemuseum.com/painting-wu-zhen-mist.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wu_Zhen