Deciphering the “Light Snow on a Fishing Village” Scroll ― The 12th Seminar Held by the Department of Art Research, Archives and Information Systems
The Department of Art Research, Archives and Information Systems hosts study groups, inviting researchers from Japan and abroad as a platform for academic exchange. This year, the department welcomed Dr. Wan Muchun, a professor at the China Academy of Art and vice president of the Advanced School of Arts and Humanities, who gave a research presentation titled “Wang Shen’s ‘Light Snow on a Fishing Village‘ Scroll.”
Based on source materials, the presentation explored Wang Shen’s legacy of paintings, closely analyzing the key elements of Light Snow on a Fishing Village—the waterside, snowy scenery, and a fishing village—to examine how they contribute to the spatial composition of the work as a whole. Attempts were also made to decipher the painter’s visual approach, with a focus on depictions of nature and on atmospheric expression in particular. Looking beyond Light Snow on a Fishing Village, the presentation also compared multiple examples, conducting a detailed examination of different approaches to visual expression.
The question-and-answer session elicited active discussions and insightful questions from researchers and graduate students, to which Dr. Wan provided clear and insightful responses. This lecture by an international researcher offered Japanese scholars a valuable opportunity to gain new perspectives.
Moving forward, the department aims to invite more international researchers and regularly host study groups as a platform for knowledge exchange.