Landscape, album page 1700 - 1750

This landscape album page was created by Gao Qipei in the Qing Dynasty using ink on paper. The fluid strokes and washes of ink create a sense of depth and atmosphere, inviting the viewer to step into the scene. The artist's use of ink is particularly interesting. Rather than building up layers of pigment, the artist uses the ink's inherent qualities of fluidity and transparency to create a sense of depth and atmosphere. The way it bleeds and feathers across the absorbent paper, and the gradations of tone achieved through dilution, are essential to the work’s contemplative mood. The techniques employed here are part of a long tradition of literati painting, valuing expressive brushwork over strict realism. Yet, Qipei differentiated himself from his peers by painting with his fingernails rather than a brush! This unconventional process imbued the image with a very personal sensibility, defying the traditional art world and reflecting the individual effort and skill of its maker. So, when you look at this image, consider the artist's careful control of the material, and the ways in which he used it to express his own inner vision.