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The Hermit Xu You Resting by a Stream
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
Xu You, a recluse who refused the throne offered to him by legendary Emperor Yao, chose instead to farm on Mount Ji. Sitting under cliffs, his left arm resting on his risen leg and his loose robe revealing his belly, he displays a nonchalant attitude. Xu You is wearing a laborer’s outfit, a short robe and tight leggings, while his composed pose and gentle features reveal his lofty character. The composition shows rising mountains on the left juxtaposed by open space on the far right. Powerful brushstrokes and nuanced ink washes follow the style of the Southern Song (1127–1279) academy painters.
Cleveland Museum of Art’s own descriptionCredit lineThe Hermit Xu You Resting by a Stream (箕山高隱圖), 1400s. Dai Jin (Chinese, 1388–1462). Hanging scroll; ink and slight color on silk; painting: 138.2 x 75.2 cm (54 7/16 x 29 5/8 in.); overall with knobs: 232.5 x 96.3 cm (91 9/16 x 37 15/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, John L. Severance Fund, 1974.45
