Mountain Retreat c. 16th century

Xie Shichen created this landscape, “Mountain Retreat,” with ink on paper, sometime in the mid-sixteenth century. The fan-shaped format tells us something right away: this was made for a specific purpose, to be carried and used. The monochrome ink evokes a whole cultural tradition of calligraphy and painting, demanding virtuosity from the artist in wielding the brush, but also indicating a certain class status. Paper itself was valuable in this period, and the ability to create a beautiful scene like this one bespoke both leisure time and artistic training. Look at the textures that Shichen coaxes from the ink: the rough bark of the trees, the worn surfaces of the buildings, the jagged rocks. These are rendered with great sensitivity, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere, despite the limited palette. What we see here is not just a pretty picture, but a material record of a highly developed artistic culture, in which the line between craft and fine art was beautifully blurred.