Artist: Guo Xi (1023-ca.1085)

Date: Northern Song (960-1127)

Dimensions: Height 168.0 cm, Width 53.6 cm

Material: Ink on silk

• Object Type：
  • PAINTINGS
• Location：
  • Chinese Painting Gallery
• Tag：
  • valley hanging scroll guo xi northern song ink silk

Guo Xi (1023-ca.1085), known by his zi (designated name) Chunfu, was a native of Wen county in Heyang (in today's Henan province). During the reign of Emperor Shenzong (r. 1067-1085) of the Song dynasty, he held a position in the Imperial Art Academy and served as a Hanlin (the emperor's literary retinue). Skilled in painting landscape and winter forest scenes, he learned from Li Cheng and later developed his personal style. He was the author of Lin Quan Gao Zhi (The Lofty Messages from Forests and Streams). This painting depicts a secluded valley with a spring in light ink. Giant rocks tower above the spring, with old trees alongside standing solemnly.