An Incident on the Hunt, late 17th-early 18th century, Cheng Xiang, Chinese, 1628 - 1698 or later, 88 3/8 × 62 1/2 in. (224.47 × 158.75 cm) (image)97 3/4 × 66 3/8 × 1 in. (248.29 × 168.59 × 2.54 cm) (overall, open), Ink on silk, China, 17th-18th century, This monumental landscape, rendered in pure ink, shows a lively narrative. In the panel on the right, a high-ranking man on horseback, possibly the emperor, is shown receiving a message from a kneeling figure. Behind him, a cadre of elegant court women, also on horseback, look on. In the left panel, a group of scholarsseparated by a rocky outcroppingengage in conversation. The painting may suggest that leaders, in order to effectively rule, must strike a balance between seeking the advice of scholars and engaging in various entertainments, like picnicking with women and hunting for sport (shown in the lower part of the painting).