Enjoying the Wilderness in an Autumn Grove [Photo provided to Chinaculture.org]

Probably finished in 1339, the originator of the work is Ni Zan, a well-known painter in the Yuan Dynasty. He led a wealthy life before the early 1340s, spending his time among precious books, antiques and flowers. His painting style at the time, as seen in Enjoying the Wilderness in an Autumn Grove, exhibits a studied archaism in which his interest in descriptive detail is at odds with his self-conscious use of calligraphic brushstrokes.

In 1366, Ni abandoned his home to escape marauding soldiers. Even after the establishment of the Ming dynasty in 1368, Ni continued the life of a wanderer, visiting old haunts that he had not seen for 20 or 30 years. His art style changed significantly, to become aloof and restrained.