Ming Dynasty, Shen Zhou, Scroll of Fishing for the Moon Pavilion

Ink and color on paper, 29.4cm × 91.3cm, Collection of the National Palace Museum, Taipei

This painting depicts the owner of the Fishing Moon Pavilion fishing on a crescent-shaped pond under the moonlight. The environment is elegant, with soft moonlight, typical of Shen Zhou's "studio name" courtyard paintings. A tiled-roof pavilion stands amidst rocks and trees, with an old man sitting on a square mat in front of it, facing the crescent-shaped pond, a fishing rod beside him. On the opposite bank, a embankment is surrounded by a thatched fence, suggesting a secluded and reclusive lifestyle. A full moon is depicted in the upper right corner of the scroll, veiled by lightly drawn clouds, highlighting the poetic theme of "Fishing for the Moon." The painting is unsigned, but bears a seal by Shen Zhou: "Master of Youzhu Manor." Based on the style, it can be attributed to Shen Zhou. This scroll is a masterpiece of the Ming Dynasty, combining poetry, calligraphy, and painting. The introductory section features the three large characters "Diaoyue Pavilion" in clerical script by Wen Zhengming; the trailing section includes postscripts by Zhu Yunming and Du Mu; and poems by prominent figures from Suzhou such as Shen Zhou, Zhu Yunming, Wen Bi, Chen Qiong, Xu Zhenqing, and Huang Yun.