Chao
Kan (fl. 10th century), a native of Chiang-ning, Kiangsu, was noted for
expertize in painting mountains and forests and pictures of springs and
rocks. He served in the so-called Painting Academy of the last ruler of
the Southern T'ang, Li Yü (r. 961-975). It is therefore not
surprising to find that his paintings all depicted the scenery of that
region, the Chiang-nan area, south of the Yangtze. His subjects frequently
included homely scenes such as fishermen's markets, riverside villages, or
someone gazing at passing boats. Flowers and bamboo give way to the
pleasantness of interesting scenery. Even though you might be in the midst
of the windblown dust of the morning market, as soon as you glance at his
pictures, it will seem as though you are at the very river itself.