Landscape Qing dynasty/early Republican period, 19th/early 20th century

Gong Xian made this landscape scroll with ink on paper, sometime in the 17th century. Here, ink is more than just a medium; it's the very essence of the work. Look at the way he’s built up layers of washes and precise brushstrokes to conjure a whole world. It’s a testament to the artist’s deep understanding of the material, and also the enormous amount of time involved. Traditional Chinese ink painting is a slow art. Consider how the varying tones of ink create depth, atmosphere, and texture. The artist uses the absorbent qualities of paper to great effect, creating soft gradations and subtle nuances. It’s a process rooted in centuries of tradition, where the mastery of brushwork is paramount. The result is a landscape that’s not just seen, but felt. By focusing on process and materials, we can move past conventional ideas of high and low art, and begin to understand the labor that goes into these deceptively simple-seeming works.