Move up one more floor 1690

Shitao, working in China in the 17th century, created "Move up one more floor" with ink on paper, and it presents a striking composition dominated by the interplay of light and shadow. The stark contrast between the ink's dark tones and the paper's pale surface shapes the forms of mountains, trees, and distant structures. The strokes vary in intensity, adding to the overall emotional impact and sense of depth. The composition plays with perspective, placing the viewer both within and above the landscape. This destabilizes our sense of space, reflecting the Daoist principles Shitao embraced. He challenged fixed perspectives, both artistically and philosophically. The poem inscribed adds layers of meaning, connecting personal reflection with broader cosmological ideas. The manipulation of ink wash and line, combined with the poem, functions not merely as aesthetic choices, but as part of a larger cultural dialogue questioning established norms and inviting multiple interpretations.