Artwork Description

Title: View Waterfall at Songting
Artist: Li Xun
Date: n.d.
Medium: Ink and watercolor on paper
Dimensions: 53.5 x 26.8 in (136 x 68 cm)

1. Artwork Identification
This exquisite ink and watercolor painting on paper, Title:d View Waterfall at Songting, showcases the accomplished hand of artist Li Xun. With a composition that unfolds vertically, the scene presents a majestic cascade tumbling down from mist-veiled cliffs, framed by venerable pine trees and layered rock formations. Below, a traditional pavilion nestled among foliage hosts a tranquil gathering beside a placid riverbank. The artist's command of brushwork and color wash creates a luminous interplay of texture and depth, characteristic of high-level literati painting.

2. Artistic Style and Influences
Li Xun’s work embodies the classical traditions of Chinese landscape painting, or shan shui (山水), literally "mountain-water" painting. With stylistic roots in the Southern Song and Yuan dynasties, this piece pays homage to the great masters of Chinese ink landscape while incorporating a refined color palette and compositional clarity more aligned with Qing dynasty aesthetics. The precise delineation of cliffs and pines, coupled with the poetic inclusion of figures in scholarly retreat, points to literati influences and Daoist philosophical themes of harmony between man and nature.

3. Historical Context
Although undated, the work adheres to centuries-old conventions of Chinese landscape painting that sought to express not only a visual reality but also a metaphysical one. These paintings often served as meditative spaces for the educated elite, reflecting Confucian, Daoist, and Buddhist ideals of contemplation and simplicity. The motif of the scholar’s retreat in a mountainous haven—represented here with great fidelity—was a popular theme during both imperial and modern periods as a symbolic refuge from worldly affairs.

4. Provenance
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

5. Condition and Conservation
The artwork is in very good condition. The paper remains structurally sound with no visible tears or foxing. The ink and pigments retain their vibrancy and show no signs of fading. Mounted as a scroll or panel, it is suitable for exhibition and conservation framing.

6. Artistic Significance
View Waterfall at Songting is an elegant representation of the enduring appeal of traditional Chinese landscape painting. Li Xun’s ability to balance intricate detail with atmospheric subtlety makes this work a notable example within the genre. Its academic refinement and poetic sensibility would appeal to collectors of Chinese ink painting as well as connoisseurs of East Asian art history, offering both cultural depth and visual serenity.