Scholar on a rock

Ren Yi (Ren Bonian)

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Rendered in highly controlled contours of uniform width and geometric perfection that appear engraved rather than brushed, this fan painting is probably an early work exemplifying Ren Yi's mastery of the archaistic idiom of his fellow townsman Chen Hongshou (1598-1652), who was an important model for each of the Four Rens. Ren depicted a scholar, out for a stroll, resting on a large strangely eroded garden rock. The gentleman has propped his walking stick in a crook of the stone and become engrossed in a book. By isolating this image against a blank background, Ren focuses our attention on the subtle interplay between the scalloped contours of the rock and the patterned folds of the man's robes, conveying a sense of the deep harmony between these kindred spirits.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.

Metropolitan Museum of Art