Schildering 1700 - 1750

This ink painting of mountains shrouded in clouds was created by Gao Qipei, who lived from 1661 to 1734. His lifetime spanned a period of immense social change in China. Born towards the end of the Ming Dynasty, he lived through the Qing conquest. Perhaps his best-known legacy is the development of a unique style of finger painting. The mountains in this work seem to emerge from a sea of mist, created using subtle gradations of ink. Paintings like this were not just about representing nature, they were about expressing the artist's inner state and connection to the world. They invited viewers to contemplate their own place in the universe, and perhaps to find solace in the face of social upheaval. How might the choice to paint with fingers, rather than a brush, reflect a desire to engage with his subject matter in a more immediate and visceral way? Consider the emotional and philosophical resonance that this work might have carried for both the artist and its viewers.