Noble Hermit in a Mountain Retreat c. late to early 17th century

Curator: Up next, we're looking at "Noble Hermit in a Mountain Retreat," an ink drawing on paper, created by Chen Ruyan around the late 16th to early 17th century. Editor: Immediately, I'm struck by the solitude. There's a quiet strength to this image. All those sweeping lines, forming jagged mountains, convey such immensity, even a kind of peaceful isolation. Curator: Isolation is a key theme in classical landscape paintings, like this one. It often represents the retreat from the complexities of court life, the seeking of enlightenment in nature. Look at the tiny figure tucked away amidst those monumental peaks. Editor: Absolutely. The deliberate scale play highlights how humanity kind of gets swallowed up, not in a scary way, but almost like re-absorbed into something larger and indifferent to it, it allows to break up with its old patterns and be reborn as a part of a whole, one with the natural and spiritual world. Curator: Notice too how the artist utilizes negative space, or emptiness, to convey distance and atmosphere. The pale ink washes create a misty effect, obscuring details and adding to the sense of mystery. It almost invites introspection. What do you see when you gaze into that mist? Editor: I feel this pressure of expectations imposed on the human spirit during the author’s period, like this ink artwork stands against all rules that society wants you to follow, because hermit’s journey means deconstructing who you are just to become someone, one with nature and able to start over again. It has something punk. Curator: Interesting point of view! It also shows a clear departure from the artistic values ​​of previous eras; during the Ming and Qing dynasties artists pursued not only technical skill but also the expression of emotions. Chen was good at that, don’t you think? Editor: I agree. In our contemporary world, with information constantly bombarding us, finding that space of quiet retreat becomes even more important. The noble hermit—is an icon for everyone, actually. He’s on a constant protest against imposed rules! Curator: Indeed. And Chen Ruyan invites us to contemplate it with this remarkable work. Editor: I leave this artwork now with a little bit more silence inside myself. Thank you!