Qu Yuan and the Fisherman 1630 - 1650

"Qu Yuan and the Fisherman" is a handscroll painting by Shen Hao, a prominent Chinese artist of the 17th century. Dating back to 1630-1650, the artwork depicts a scene from Chinese legend, highlighting the sorrowful tale of Qu Yuan, a patriotic minister who drowned himself in protest against political corruption. The painting features a delicate and suggestive landscape, with misty mountains and a lone fisherman in the foreground, capturing the melancholy and solitude of the narrative. The minimalist yet evocative style is characteristic of the literati painting tradition, emphasizing the artist's subjective experience and emotional response to the subject. This painting, now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, offers a glimpse into the rich cultural heritage and artistic sensibility of China during the Qing Dynasty.