China, Southern Song dynasty (1127-1279) / c. 1256
Scholar Reclining and Watching Rising Clouds; Poem by Wang Wei
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Scholar Reclining and Watching Rising Clouds; Poem by Wang Wei as painting (China, Southern Song dynasty (1127-1279) · c. 1256).
Ma Lin was the son of Ma Yuan, the artist renowned for his unique composition and often referred to as "One-corner Ma."
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this painting as Album leaf; ink on silk and credits Ma Lin (Chinese, c. 1185–after 1260).
The museum's collection notes: Poem and painting, once mounted together as one fan, exemplify the collaboration between imperial patron and court painter. Emperor Lizong’s calligraphy cites a verse from Wang Wei’s (701–761) poem, Walking to where the water ends, I sit and watch when clouds arise . Ma Lin’s response is this painting. At the water’s edge, a scholar reclines by a large rock. The view leads across the empty middle ground to a distant mountain. With sparse ink and subtly graded washes, Ma Lin visualizes the poetic verse. The painting suggests the impact of Chan aesthetics through interaction between the palace, literati-officials, and monasteries around Hangzho
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The Cleveland Museum of ArtScholar Reclining and Watching Rising Clouds; Poem by Wang WeiOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.