Clearing after snow in a wintry grove of trees (1531) 115x36.2 cm (fig.1).
The painting Clearing after snow in a wintry grove of trees is a masterpiece of the Ming dynasty painter Wen Zhengming(1470-1559). This short essay aims at demonstrating its philosophical and pictorial meaning by exploring the inscription and imagery.
The painting depicts a peaceful scene of mountains and trees after snow, with the sun shining brilliantly in a clear sky. At the lowest quarter, the foreground, several rooms lie amidst a wintry grove of trees and two men sit apart silently and peacefully. One looks upward, appreciating the trees covered with snow while the other leans down, enjoying the sound of the water. On the other side of the veranda-bridge, another villa hides
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He said the landscape painting should try to explore three perspectives, one that allows viewers to raise their eyes, one that allows viewers to extend their eyes and one that allows viewers to explore. The grand mountains create the first perspective. The broad foreground makes it possible for the viewers to extend eyes. The zigzag path that extends into the clouds provides the opportunity for exploration. Above all, the painting suits the theory very well.
The painting Clearing after snow in a wintry grove of trees presents a peaceful white world under a clear sky after the snow. The Daoists in the painting are praising the peaceful and calm nature, having their meditation in a cold, but the clear world. This landscape shows Wen Zhengming’s calm mood and free spiritual state and illustrates his ideal art dream and true scholar virtues. This hanging scroll was a gift that he painted for his friend. It offers an opportunity to look at the artist’s free spirit and his life belief in pursuing the integrity and honesty.