Minneapolis Institute of Art

Fishing on Winter River

Ye Guang

Date

late 16th–early 17th century

Medium

Ink and color on silk

Department

Asian Art

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

While many paintings depict recluses in the guise of fishermen, the figures portrayed here are actual fishermen, another popular theme related to the eremitic genre. The two fishermen are mooring their boat on the shore of the river, surrounded by a wintry landscape. The scenery is depicted using the so-called reverse saturation method, meaning that the background, including the sky and the river, are painted with light ink, while other areas—the mountains, riverbank, treetops, and the boat itself—are left unpainted. This technique gives the impression that these spots are covered with snow. Especially noteworthy is the subtle and very skillful rendition of smoke rising above the frozen river from the charcoal brazier on board the river skiff. China, Asia

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