At the discretion of River 1707

Shitao, a Chinese artist working in the 17th century, created "At the discretion of River" using ink on paper. The horizontal composition is sparse: a lone figure in a boat occupies the upper left, balanced by a stark pine branch in the lower right. The light washes of ink evoke a vast, undefined space, almost a void. The power of this work lies in its destabilization of traditional landscape painting. Instead of detailed representation, Shitao offers minimal, suggestive forms. The brushstrokes are direct and unpretentious, challenging fixed perspectives. The river's discretion becomes a metaphor for the artist's own freedom. He uses the semiotic system of landscape to create a sense of openness and possibility rather than constraint. Note how the emptiness of the space allows for multiple interpretations, inviting the viewer to complete the scene with their imagination. Shitao uses the formal elements of ink and space to engage with philosophical ideas about nature, perception, and individual expression. The painting serves not just as a visual record, but as a site for intellectual and aesthetic exploration.