Mountain Scenery with Streams and Pavilions in the Style of Fan Kuan 1667

This is a landscape painted by Wang Jian, emulating the style of Fan Kuan. Dominating the composition are the mountains, central to the traditional Chinese landscape painting, known as "shanshui." Mountains are not merely geological formations but powerful symbols of the cosmos. In Taoism, they are seen as the dwelling places of immortals, embodying the connection between earth and heaven, permanence and the sacred. Pavilions punctuate the scene, offering a space for contemplation. These structures echo throughout the history of art. Consider their symbolic role in paintings by Poussin, where architecture provides a stage for human drama. Just as in those classical landscapes, here, the pavilions invite reflection on our place within the natural order. Water is another key motif, symbolizing the cyclical nature of life. Observe how such symbols reappear across centuries, transformed yet still resonating with a deep, collective memory. It evokes an intense feeling of longing, perhaps for a harmony with nature. This emotional power keeps the symbols alive across time.