Bamboo, Rocks, and Wintry Grove

Yun Shouping (1633–1690)'s Bamboo, Rocks, and Wintry Grove (1659, second leaf from Landscapes in the Manner of Song and Yuan Masters) is an ink album leaf depicting a solitary gnarled pine tree with twisting, bare branches emerging from rugged, textured rocks, accompanied by slender bamboo stalks on the right and subtle misty mountains in the background. Executed in fine, varied brushstrokes and subtle ink washes without color, it captures a sparse winter scene in the intimate, minimalist style of Yuan dynasty masters.

Artistic and Social Context

Painted in the early Qing dynasty (1644–1912), this work is from one of Yun’s earliest dated albums, showcasing his youthful exploration of landscape painting before his renowned shift to flowers and birds. As a literati artist from a modest merchant family barred from civil service exams due to Manchu policies, Yun drew inspiration from Song and Yuan predecessors, here emulating Zhu Derun (1294–1365) in his inscription: "After viewing Zhu Zemin's small handscroll of twin trees, I used his method to paint these bamboo, rocks, and wintry grove." The album's twelve leaves blend emulation with personal expression, reflecting the Orthodox Movement's emphasis on classical revival amid political upheaval. Shared among peers, it underscores Yun's role in the Changzhou School, fusing technical precision with poetic inscription to elevate landscapes as moral exemplars in elite Qing culture.

Interpretation and Meaning

This leaf evokes the enduring harmony of nature's "three friends of winter"—pine for longevity and steadfastness, bamboo for integrity and flexibility, and rock for immovability—symbolizing Confucian virtues of resilience and moral uprightness amid adversity, much like the literati's navigation of dynastic change. The bare branches and misty veil suggest impermanence and quiet contemplation (you), aligning with Yun's "feeling taking" (qu qing) philosophy, where sparse ink conveys inner tranquility and transcendence. The composition's asymmetry balances solitude with subtle vitality, inviting viewers to reflect on personal fortitude and the timeless beauty of restraint in a transient world.

Size

The original size of Yun Shouping’s Bamboo, Rocks, and Wintry Grove is 26.7 × 36.8 cm (10 1/2 × 14 1/2 inches).