南宋 佚名 月下波浪圖 團扇|Waves in the moonlight

Unidentified artist

13th century · Fan mounted as al album leaf; ink on silk · Asian Art

This composition calls to mind paintings of the tidal bore, an annual event where exceptionally high tides push into the Qiantang River in Hangzhou, resulting in a powerful tidal wave that runs up the course of the river. When the imperial capital was moved to Hangzhou during the Southern Song dynasty, the tidal bore became a subject for court painters, and this painting was likely created in that milieu. Most paintings of this type include at least a patch of shore for context, but the unidentified painter of this fan places us in the river itself, with only the moon to provide a sense of direction.

Artist

Unidentified artist

Date

13th century

Medium

Fan mounted as al album leaf; ink on silk

Culture

China

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

From the Collection of A. W. Bahr, Purchase, Fletcher Fund, 1947