The Red Cliff
In this painting, a group of friends find solace in Nature when they travel by boat to an idealized retreat described by the Song dynasty poet Su Dongpo (Su Shi) (1037—1101) in Rhapsody on Red Cliff.
The artist, Qian Gu was an avid bibliophile, which may explain his choice of subject matter in this handscroll. Both the introductory calligraphy and the painting itself comment on Su’s poem. Exiled from court on several occasions for his political views, Su was praised by generations of literati for his moral fortitude. He was also an exceptionally gifted painter and poet.
In addition to his musings on impermanence, Su vividly describes the moonlit river scene. Perhaps it is this combination of rich description and introspection that inspired generations of artists, including Qian Gu, to evoke the Red Cliff in painting.
