Scholars' Game Beneath the Shade of a Tree

Recently spied in Shanghai, this northern Chinese painting dates from around 1900. Delicately rendered in ink, the work depicts a group of men enjoying a summer day by playing a game of Go. Also known as weiqi, this ancient game of strategy was invented 2,500 years ago and was traditionally considered one of the four cultural arts to be mastered by Chinese scholars. We love the artist’s keen eye for detail, from the standing scholar’s gnarled walking stick to the table’s hoofed feet.