Wang Jian studied with the influential painter-theorist Dong Qichang. Under his guidance, Wang embarked on an intensive study of old master styles, eventually incorporating a broad view of painting history into his own personal style. In this work, Wang explores the manner of the great eleventh-century artist Fan Kuan, adopting the earlier master’s jagged contour lines and signature “raindrop” texture stroke to add a tactile quality to the rocky cliffs.