Landscape (Album Leaf) 

Bada Shanren, a Chinese artist, created this landscape, or album leaf, using ink on paper. At first glance, the scene offers a rather sparse depiction of nature, but its themes go much deeper than that. Bada Shanren was a member of the Ming imperial family who became a Buddhist monk after the dynasty’s collapse. This work reflects his personal history and comments on the social structures of the time. The two boats in the distance may represent the artist and his brother, who chose different paths after the fall of the Ming dynasty. The lone house on the mountain top suggests a retreat from society, a theme that resonates with Bada Shanren’s own life. The historical context of this work enriches our understanding of its meaning, and we might examine primary sources, such as letters or other writings, to better understand the artist’s intent.