Rushing Spring in a Steep Gorge

Wang Hui (1632–1717), one of the Four Wangs and leader of the Yushan (Yushan) School, painted this masterful ink landscape in the mid‑autumn of the 15th year of the Kangxi reign (1676), at age 45. Rushing Spring in a Steep Gorge (ink on paper, 74.3 cm × 31.4 cm, housed in the Palace Museum, Beijing, recorded in Shiqu Baoji Xubian and stored in Chonghua Palace with eight imperial seals intact) is a classic work that emulates the style of the great Yuan painter Wang Meng, showcasing Wang Hui’s mature ability to synthesize ancient traditions.

The composition features towering, confronting peaks veiled in mist, with four streams cascading down from the hollow of the left mountain, flowing through forests and over jagged rocks. Ancient pines twist on the steep slopes, and a winding mountain path climbs upward. Using delicate ox‑hair texturing (niumaocun) and alternating dry and wet ink tones, Wang layers strokes to build a powerful sense of three‑dimensionality and grandeur, while maintaining an elegant, moist atmosphere—all in pure ink without color, yet brimming with dynamic energy.

This work perfectly embodies Wang Hui’s artistic creed: “Yuan‑style brushwork with Song‑style composition.” It merges the dense, textural complexity of Wang Meng’s Yuan literati brushwork with the monumental structure and spatial depth of Song landscape painting. As a mid‑career masterpiece, it not only demonstrates his technical virtuosity in orthodox landscape painting but also reflects his unique artistic transformation—respecting ancient models while infusing them with personal artistic insight.