Orchids -- Illustration from the Ten Bamboo Studio Manual of Calligraphy and Painting (Shizhuzhai shuhua pu) before 1703

Editor: This illustration of orchids comes from Hu Zhengyan's "Ten Bamboo Studio Manual," and I find its delicate lines so calming. What do you see in this piece? Curator: It’s the spirit of the scholar, isn't it? A dance of ink, revealing more than just a flower. See how the negative space breathes life, suggesting resilience, a quiet strength? It’s a meditation, really. Does it whisper to you, too? Editor: Absolutely! It makes me think about finding beauty in simplicity. Curator: Exactly! And that a few graceful strokes can evoke a whole world. I’ll be pondering that for a while.