Mountain Grove with Path c. 1630

Cheng Jiasui created this ink-on-paper painting, *Mountain Grove with Path,* sometime in his lifetime, between 1565 and 1644. The work is made with just a few materials, but each one is rich with cultural significance. Ink, derived from carbon, typically soot, is combined with a binder and then carefully applied with a brush onto delicate paper. The artist's touch, and the way the ink bleeds and spreads, are key to the image's visual effect. Landscape painting has always been valued in China, far more than portraiture, as a window onto nature. The monochrome ink washes create a meditative feeling. It is a reminder that the simplest of means, expertly handled, can convey a world of meaning. The artist’s labor, seemingly effortless, gives us access to a scene that is both specific and universal.