Boating in the Mountains, in the style of Qiu Ying,

undated; 17th–18th century

The Ming dynasty painter Qiu Ying, to whom this work has traditionally been attributed, was known for his blue-green painting style. Flowering trees on banks may be a reference to the story of the Peach Blossom Spring, a theme also seen in other paintings on view. In a canopied boat on the water, two men sit in conversation. Near them are scholarly accoutrements and a vase with a flowering branch. Inside a building on the shore, a lady can be seen arranging similar flower sprays, and outside a maid is busy washing clothes. The rocks and mountains are rendered blue and green, possibly meant to recall a distant past free from turmoil and harsh circumstances.