Conversation in a cave
Although this painting bears the spurious signature of Xia Gui, the undisputed master of landscape painting in the Song Imperial Painting Academy, its motifs, brushwork, and palette relate it to the work of Ma Yuan, Xia's contemporary and the other leading
Song Academy master. Images of caves and grottoes have rich associations involving their role as possible access points to Daoist paradises. The use of such imagery here may imply an escapist wish to leave behind the cares of the mundane world.
Song Academy master. Images of caves and grottoes have rich associations involving their role as possible access points to Daoist paradises. The use of such imagery here may imply an escapist wish to leave behind the cares of the mundane world.
Artwork Details
- 南宋 佚名 洞天論道圖 團扇
- Title: Conversation in a cave
- Artist: Unidentified Artist
- Artist: After Ma Yuan (Chinese, active ca. 1190–1225)
- Period: Southern Song dynasty (1127–1279)
- Date: 13th century
- Culture: China
- Medium: Fan mounted as an album leaf; ink and color on silk
- Dimensions: Image: 9 3/4 × 9 15/16 in. (24.8 × 25.2 cm)
Mat: 15 1/2 × 15 1/2 in. (39.4 × 39.4 cm) - Classification: Paintings
- Credit Line: From the Collection of A. W. Bahr, Purchase, Fletcher Fund, 1947
- Object Number: 47.18.30
- Curatorial Department: Asian Art
More Artwork
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.