Mountain Village in Clearing Mist
Mountain Village in Clearing Mist
  • Unidentified artist
  • Joseon Dynasty, first half of 16th century
  • Ink on silk
  • Los Angeles County Museum of Art
  • Partial gift of Franklin and Lin Tom, and Chinese and Korean Special Purpose Fund

The inscription “山市晴嵐” (Clearing Mist over a Market Village) appears at the top of the painting, alongside a poem by the Song-dynasty literati Mi Fu (米芾). Several boats are moored along the riverbank, and a multi-storied pavilion is situated nearby. The only figure depicted is a person walking along the mountainside, carrying a load on his shoulder. While Mi Fu’s poem describes a bustling crowd, such lively activity is scarcely reflected in the painting itself. A thick mist envelops the midsection of the mountain, while the trees are depicted with sharp, crab-claw-shaped brushstrokes. These elements reflect key characteristics of the An Gyeon school style.