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After Mao Zedong’s Poem “Swimming”

Fu Baoshi Chinese

dated 1958

Not on view

On May 31, 1956, Mao Zedong swam across the Yangzi River from Wuchang to Hankou. He ventured across the river many other times, finding in it the inspiration for “a great plan.” As laid out in his poem “Swimming” of June 1956, he wanted to tame the Yangzi with human structures. Fu must have seen a newspaper photograph of Mao swimming in the river and borrowed the composition for this painting.

After Mao Zedong’s Poem “Swimming”, Fu Baoshi (Chinese, 1904–1965), Album leaf; ink on paper, China — This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Title: After Mao Zedong’s Poem “Swimming”

Artist: Fu Baoshi (Chinese, 1904–1965)

Date: dated 1958

Culture: China

Medium: Album leaf; ink on paper

Dimensions: Image: 14 3/16 x 19 11/16 in. (36 x 50 cm)

Classification: Paintings

Credit Line: Lent by Nanjing Museum

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Asian Art at The Met

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world.