Cormorants cluster within a square composition whose washes suggest water and mist without constructing a conventional vista. Their bodies are made by quick dark strokes, each distinct yet held within a collective pulse. The motif connected Lin to childhood memories of forest and water as well as to the fishing landscapes he studied around Shanghai.
The painting's economy is not emptiness. Subtle blue-grey wash, reeds, and the intervals between birds create a dense emotional atmosphere. Lin lets calligraphic speed describe weight and posture while preserving the innocence and companionship he associated with birds.
