An anachronist style (blue-green, flat landscape, wiry trees) the picture portrays an ancient 3rd century scholar, Xie Youyu, who claimed that he was uncomfortable at Court, but had no equal when left alone to reflect among the trees. It was painted one year after Zhao Mengfu had rejoined the Court. Autobiographical?
Original size: 27.4x117cms.
Princeton Art Museum, NJ, USA. Y1984-13