Solitary Skiff

In this painting, a fisherman drives a long pole with two hands and stands with feet widely planted as he strives to speed his bamboo raft along the river. Both sides of the flat raft are horizontally tied by cords, identifying it as a common type of raft that operated easily in mountain rivers in southern China. The raft advances quickly, startling into flight a few birds ahead of the fisherman, alluding to his eagerness to return home. In front of him, towering green peaks evoke the spring.

Inscribed:

A solitary skiff on the misty water returns late at night.

—In the lunar Yichou year [1985], spring, third month.

Shao-an at Hong Kong.