This Song dynasty painting was probably inspired by this poem by Liu Zong Yuan a Tang dynasty writer noted for both poetry and prose who wrote "River Snow"
This is a very loose translation
Over a thousand mountains the flight of birds has ceased
On ten thousand pathways human tracks have disappeared
In just one boat in a reed cloak and bamboo hat an old man
Alone he continues fishing on the cold river in the snow.
Ma Yuan fisherman is not in the snow and his hat and cape are piled neatly onto of his boat but the general mood is similar ... one man alone ...
Some critics think Liu's poem refers to himself but I wonder also if he saw from a riverbank one fisherman so desperate for a catch they worked even as snow begun and continued to fall?
I have some more Fisherman paintings to show you
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