Birds in a lotus pond 1680 - 1700

Bada Shanren made this scroll painting, Birds in a Lotus Pond, with ink on paper. It's a wonderful example of the literati painting tradition. Notice the apparent spontaneity of Shanren’s brushwork. The ink varies from nearly dry, to deeply saturated, resulting in a range of tonal values. The controlled application of ink is particularly important here. Shanren was a master of brushwork, and his ability to manipulate ink allowed him to create a wide range of textures and effects, from the rough plumage of the birds to the smooth surface of the lotus leaves. Consider that this wasn't just artistic skill; it was also an act of cultural expression. Shanren was a member of the Ming dynasty imperial family, who became a Buddhist monk after the dynasty was overthrown. His paintings often reflect his feelings of loss and displacement, and the lotus pond could be seen as a symbol of purity and renewal in a troubled world. The ease with which he applied ink to paper in turn, provides a window into the artist's state of mind.