Enjoying the Moon: Landscape in the Manner of Wang Meng 1368 - 1644

Gu Yide created this landscape in the manner of Wang Meng, sometime in the first half of the 17th century, using ink on paper. A work like this reminds us that even the simplest-seeming materials come with a long history of production. The ink, of course, had to be carefully manufactured. Lampblack or soot, the residue of burning oil or wood, was mixed with a binder, usually animal glue, and then pressed into solid form. The paper, too, was a complex product, made from plant fibers that had to be pulped, processed, and carefully laid out to dry. The artist’s labor is evident in every brushstroke, building up the image from countless tiny marks. In its finished form, this scroll testifies to the intimate relationship between hand, material, and the long, intricate history of Chinese landscape painting. So, next time you see an ink painting, remember that it’s not just an image, it’s a testament to a whole world of making.