Landscape (Dong Yuan and Juran Style) 

This landscape was painted by Bada Shanren, using ink on paper, in the style of earlier artists Dong Yuan and Juran. The ink’s fluidity lends itself to the depiction of water, sky, and distant mountains. Varying the consistency of the ink creates different tonalities that suggest depth and volume. The marks must be applied with confidence and skill, since unlike oil paint, ink is not easily corrected. Consider the social context in which this work was created. Bada Shanren was a member of the fallen Ming Dynasty, living under the succeeding Qing Dynasty. The act of painting, and the particular styles he chose to emulate, were thus highly charged with political meaning. Through the labor of the hand, he could subtly critique the new regime. Paying attention to materials, making, and context allows us to understand the full meaning of Bada Shanren's work, challenging traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.