Misty Landscape

Misty Landscape, also called Yuanxiu qingyun tu, is a magnificent hanging scroll ink painting on paper created in 1135 by the Southern Song master painter Mi Youren. The work of art represents the unique style of “Mi-family misty landscape” or “Mi shi yunshan.” Actually, the picture is made up of a couple of detached scenes, which were traditionally presented as a unique whole. They depict distant peaks rising from the river mist and the surrounding low clouds, a typical landscape in the Jiangnan region, which is well known for its high humidity. Firstly, the painter did not use clear lines and hard shapes to define the forms of the landscape. On the contrary, he used washed ink in broad brushstrokes and short strokes (Mi dots), which overlap one another in order to portray the mountainous horizon and the tree canopies. This technique helps to create a sense of depth and softness, as well as to demonstrate the wetness and airiness of the depicted landscape. Moreover, the painter managed to make the viewer feel the dampness and almost wet the paper with ink washes. Secondly, even though the scroll is small, it creates an illusion of depth because of the alternating light and dark strokes. Indeed, the dark dabs show the trees and nearby peaks, while the pale strokes portray the distant mountains. Misty Landscape was painted for the scholar-official Zuo Dagong in the period of the Song dynasty’s instability. It is not necessary to be an expert in art to feel the personal meaning of the work, as well as the emotions and visions of the author. Actually, the poem inscribed on the picture reveals that it was painted in the spirit of “ink play,” common for the Wenren (literati) painters. Not only did Mi Youren depict nature scenes, but he also tried to touch the soul of the visitor through the power of poetry and ink.