Five Dynasties
Ink and color on silk
118.5*64.6cm

In the midst of a mass of maple trees whose foliage has begun to turn as autumn sets in, a family of deer forage freely in the woods under the watchful eye of the stag, when suddenly they are alarmed by something coming from the left and prepare for flight. In this painting, outlining is de-emphasized; the body mass of the deer is expressed through ink and color washes. The artist is indifferent to the distance of the maple trees and there is no attempt to highlight spatial depth. Decorative, brilliant colors, instead, are used to produce an autumn mood. This painting approach is rare in Chinese art history, and probably is a work by an artist from an ethnic community beyond China's western borders.