Artwork Page for Fisherman's Joy

Details / Information for Fisherman's Joy

Fisherman's Joy

漁樂圖

1572

Qian Gu 錢榖

(Chinese, 1508–c. 1578)
Culture
China, Ming dynasty (1368–1644)
Medium
Handscroll; ink and light color on paper
Measurements
Image: 31.4 x 355.2 cm (12 3/8 x 139 13/16 in.); Overall: 37 x 989.4 cm (14 9/16 x 389 1/2 in.)
Credit Line
The Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund 1977.56
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
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Description

This painting has a scene showing two small crafts, each manned by two fishermen, practicing a traditional fishing method. In one of them, a man uses a bamboo pole to direct the movements of a cormorant bird sent into the water. Cormorant fishing, witnessed in some areas of the lower Yangzi River, appears in Zhe school paintings. Qian Gu may have borrowed these narrative figure scenes from Zhe school paintings, while his vantage point, brushwork, and soft tones align with the Wu school style. Scenes of fishermen appealed to urban and educated audiences who idealized the self-sufficient independence of fisherfolk.
A handscroll features columns of Chinese text on the left followed by a panoramic river scene in ink and light color. Figures with light skin tones navigate small boats through clusters of reeds and willow trees. From our left to right, people gather on the riverbanks, pull large nets from the water, and row across the expanse. Muted grays, tans, and pale greens define the landscape under soft, hazy mountains.

Fisherman's Joy

1572

Qian Gu

(Chinese, 1508–c. 1578)
China, Ming dynasty (1368–1644)

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