page_title: Poet on a Mountaintop
section_title: Connections to the time period
hierarchical_section_title: Poet on a Mountaintop / Connections to the time period
caption_attribution_description: English: This painting is an example of the light brushstrokes used in the paintings of Yuan Dynasty artists. Shen Zhou followed in the footsteps of these artists, basing much of his work off of their style.
context_page_description: Poet on a Mountaintop is a painting by the Ming Dynasty artist Shen Zhou. Zhou was a firm believer of Daoism as he mimicked the style of Yuan Dynasty administrators through his paintings. He was the earliest and one of the most prominent examples of artistic style originating from the Wu School teachings. He excelled in poetry, painting, and calligraphy. Zhou had many paintings that showed the concern and importance of nature, especially landscapes. This is clearly displayed in Poet on a Mountaintop, a painting portraying a beautiful mountainous landscape. On the left side of the painting, Zhou included a poem describing the magnificence of the nature being displayed. The entire work attempts to display man's insignificance in comparison to the brilliance of nature. Poet on a Mountaintop and Zhou's apparent value for nature connects directly to the deep values of Ming Dynasty China.
context_section_description: Poet on a Mountaintop is in the style of the Wu School, which sought to emphasize a close relationship between poetry, calligraphy, and painting. In Poet on a Mountaintop, a poet stands at the top of a mountain, seemingly gazing at the poem written in calligraphy. All three forms of art are incorporated into this painting, each uniquely related to another, in the style of the Wu School. Shen Zhou drew on the work of artists from the Yuan Dynasty and the Song Dynasty, incorporating different aspects of each into his style. Much of his landscape art was based heavily on Yuan artists, borrowing their simplicity and intricate texture strokes to make a pure and refined style. Similarly, the influence of the Song Dynasty on Shen Zhou's art can be seen in the de-emphasis of humans by drawing them as a small part of the painting instead of at the center. This is can be seen in Poet on a Mountaintop with its strong emphasis on landscape and lack of emphasis on the poet. The poet seems to be gazing off towards a poem that focuses on his surroundings, ensuring that nature is the focus of this painting.
caption: This is an example of the light brushstrokes used by many artists during the Yuan Dynasty. Shen Zhou used a similar technique when creating his works.
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