Appreciating the Chrysanthemum in Retreat

Handscroll; Color on paper; 298cm(width)*22cm(height)

This painting depicts an autumn scene of admiring chrysanthemums. Three men sit at their leisure in a pavilion, while a servant boy stands by holding a wine bottle, awaiting the master’s orders. The willows beside the pavilion wave in the breeze, matching the lush trees across the water. The scene is plain and simple, with a good balance between the people and the natural scene, presenting a view of clear air and a bright autumn sky.

Shen Zhou (1427–1509) was a Ming Dynasty painter from Changzhou (present day Suzhao, Jiangsu Province), known also by aliases including Qian, Shitian, and Baishi Weng. He did not sit for the traditional official examinations, instead dedicating himself to writing poetry and essays, calligraphy, and painting. He particularly excelled at landscape painting. Following the principles of Dong Yuan, Ju Ran, and later Huang Gongwang and Wu Zhen, his work features thick, solid strokes, strong middle strokes, and a profound, poised style. He also excelled in meticulous strokes, integrating sublime grandeur into his subtle lines, earning the name “Meticulous Shen”. He rose to the status of one of the Four Great Painters of the Ming Dynasty, alongside Wen Zhengming, Tang Yin, and Qiu Ying.