Page from the Mustard Seed Garden Manual of Painting 1679

This page from the Mustard Seed Garden Painting Manual was created by Wang Gai, sometime between 1679 and 1701, using woodblock print and ink on paper. Produced in China during the early Qing dynasty, the manual was intended as a guide for aspiring painters, and it became a significant resource for both amateur and professional artists. The image showcases the fundamental techniques and aesthetic principles of traditional Chinese landscape painting. The cultural context of this image lies in the literati tradition, in which painting, poetry, and calligraphy were integrated as forms of self-expression, a visual language used by scholars and officials. The presence of text emphasizes this connection, reflecting the fusion of visual and literary arts. This manual also served as a means of preserving and transmitting cultural values and artistic conventions. As art historians, we might use it to understand the social and institutional framework of art production and consumption in late imperial China.