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.