Ma Yuan (Chinese, active ca. 1190–1225), Viewing plum blossoms by moonlight 南宋 馬遠 月下賞梅圖 團扇, early 13th century, Southern Song dynasty (1127–1279). Fan mounted as an album leaf; ink and color on silk; Image: 9 7/8 x 10 1/2 in. (25.1 x 26.7 cm). Gift of John M. Crawford Jr., in honor of Alfreda Murck, 1986. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1986.493.2 © 2000–2016 The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

This painting was originally on one side of a round fan, but like most surviving fans, it was later mounted as an album leaf for purposes of preservation. The practice of remounting fans began early, as evidenced by sixteenth-century images of scholars viewing fans in the album format. Collectors enjoyed the challenge of bringing together disparate groups of fans to create mixed albums driven by their own interests.

This work is exhibited in the "Masterpieces of Chinese Painting from the Metropolitan Collection" exhibition, on view through October 11th, 2016.