Wang Ts'êng van de Sung dynastie / Yang Hsui, met Ts'ao onderweg naar Chiang-nan leest de Ts'ao-wo stèle 1702

This drawing by Pieter Schenk, from around 1700, presents two vignettes from Chinese history or legend, rendered with fine lines on a pale ground. The composition is split into two distinct scenes, each framed by an ornamental border that gives the work a structured, almost diagrammatic quality. The images themselves are minimalistic, focusing on the interactions between figures and their immediate surroundings. The upper scene, with its elevated platform and seated figure, contrasts with the lower scene’s more grounded, architectural setting. Schenk's use of line suggests a delicate balance between detail and abstraction, inviting us to consider how each element contributes to the narrative. Ultimately, the work invites contemplation on the interplay between cultural interpretation and artistic representation, reminding us that meaning is often constructed through the very act of seeing.