Bird on a Flowering Branch -- Illustration from the Ten Bamboo Studio Manual of Calligraphy and Painting (Shizhuzhai shuhua pu) before 1703

Editor: Here we have "Bird on a Flowering Branch" by Hu Zhengyan, an illustration from around the early 17th century. It's delicate, rendered with ink on paper, and the composition is quite sparse. What catches your eye? Curator: The Ten Bamboo Studio Manual was a mass-produced instructional guide. Consider the labor involved in carving woodblocks for each image, the distribution networks, and the intended audience eager to learn painting techniques. How does that inform our understanding? Editor: So, it’s not just about the bird and the flowers, but about the manual’s role in democratizing art-making? Curator: Precisely. We see the commodification of artistic knowledge itself, making art accessible through standardized materials and repeatable processes. It challenges our traditional view of the artist as a singular genius. Editor: I hadn't thought about the production side; it gives the image a whole new context. Thanks!