Rocks -- Illustration from the Ten Bamboo Studio Manual of Calligraphy and Painting (Shizhuzhai shuhua pu) before 1703

Curator: This is "Rocks," an illustration from the Ten Bamboo Studio Manual of Calligraphy and Painting by Hu Zhengyan. Editor: My first impression is stark, almost desolate, yet the brushwork feels incredibly delicate. Curator: Indeed, these rocks, rendered in ink and color on paper, carry a weighty symbolism in Chinese culture, representing endurance and the unyielding spirit of nature. Editor: I'm intrigued by the process. The manual itself, published in the 17th century, was a revolutionary approach to color printing. How did that accessibility influence artmaking? Curator: It broadened the audience, democratizing access to artistic styles and subjects. Rocks, often featured in scholar's gardens, became potent symbols of inner strength and resilience, accessible to a wider public. Editor: So, even something seemingly simple reflects larger cultural shifts. The materials and production methods shaped its impact. Curator: Precisely. It reveals how cultural memory is maintained and transmitted through visual symbols. Editor: Well, considering the historical moment of its making certainly adds a new layer for me. Curator: Absolutely.