Scenes Along the Xiao and Xiang Rivers

Handscroll;Ink and color on silk;249cm(width)*22cm(height) Through application of coarse brushstrokes and accent dots, Dong Yuan represented the landscapes of the Jiangnan area, vividly recreating the region’s beautiful scenery in his works. The brushstrokes and ink dots not only give a sense of the ridges and peaks in different lighting, but also reveal hidden islets in the middle of rivers and depict lingering mists at the foot of forest-clad mountains. With just a few brushstrokes, Dong created an unusual effect in that the painting made no sense when viewed closely, yet was vivid and appealing when viewed from a distance. This was an extremely creative technique.

Dong Yuan’s paintings successfully convey the interplay between Jiangnan’s rounded hills and waters. Through the use of ink dots, brush strokes, color, and space, Dong recreated luxuriant tress and grass, floating clouds and dreamy mists, rolling hills, and other features typical of Jiangnan, such as islets, streams, and bridges.