Riverside Scene with Scholar and Fisherman c. 1500

"Riverside Scene with Scholar and Fisherman" is a hanging scroll created around 1500 by the Ming Dynasty artist Liu Jun. Depicting a serene landscape with a scholar studying in a pavilion and a fisherman on a river, the painting embodies the Chinese concept of "shan shui," where nature is seen as a source of inspiration and tranquility. The artist's delicate brushstrokes and use of ink washes evoke the soft light of a misty morning, while the composition emphasizes the harmonious relationship between humans and the natural world. The scroll, now housed in the Minneapolis Institute of Art, offers a glimpse into the artistic and philosophical values of the Ming Dynasty.