The Poet Tao Yuanming (365-427) Returning to His Farm at Lili c. late 17th century

Curator: Looking at this, I feel an incredible sense of serene solitude. The ink wash creates such a gentle, almost melancholic atmosphere. Editor: Indeed. This is Ch’eng Yu-ts’ung's rendering of "The Poet Tao Yuanming Returning to His Farm at Lili." Yu-ts'ung captures the poet's famous return to rural life. Curator: The boat, drifting so peacefully. It's like the landscape itself is breathing a sigh of relief. Is that Tao himself in the boat? He looks contemplative. Editor: Yes, that is Tao. Yu-ts’ung uses the image to explore ideas of social withdrawal that were deeply embedded in the artistic culture of the time. Curator: I love how the landscape is both detailed and yet ethereal. It feels like a memory. The mountains in the background, fading into the mist... Editor: It's a conscious choice, isn't it? Using ink to evoke mood as much as place. The piece invites us to reflect on our own relationship to nature and society. Curator: A poignant invitation, I think. It makes one long for simpler times. Editor: Ultimately, Yu-ts’ung challenges our modern perceptions of art's societal role by reminding us of its deeply personal and political roots.