Artwork
Clearing Autumn Mists in the Chu Mountains

Clearing Autumn Mists in the Chu Mountains is an unspecified painting by the Baroque artist Lan Ying. It dates from 1604 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Clouds wrap around the hills, making them feel light and floating.
This painting shows misty mountains with soft, rounded shapes. The trees in the front look like dark smudges against the light. Clouds wrap around the hills, making them feel light and floating.
Lan Ying copied old masters to learn their tricks. He used Mi Fu’s round brush dots to shape the clouds and trees. It’s like he practiced their moves before making his own version.
Want to see more like this? Look up artist Lan Ying (Chinese, 1585–after 1664).
Overview
Clearing Autumn Mists in the Chu Mountains is a painting by Lan Ying, a Chinese artist active during the late Ming dynasty.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a serene landscape of mist-shrouded mountains and a tree grove in the foreground, conveying a sense of lightness and depth.
Technique & Style
Lan Ying employed 'Mi dots,' a brush technique associated with Mi Fu, to render the clouds and trees, demonstrating his engagement with traditional methods and his ability to adapt them to his own expression.
History & Provenance
Lan Ying's work was influenced by his study of various masters and schools, and he in turn influenced notable artists such as Liu Du and Chen Hongshou.
Artist & collection
Artist
Lan Ying grew up in the southeastern city of Hangzhou, where misty mountains roll into the sea.


















