Tranquility in the Forest 1972

Ding Yanyong painted this landscape using ink and color on paper. The painting is all about the push and pull of dark and light, solid and void. I’m really drawn to how Ding uses these fluid washes of ink to create the forms of the trees, the mountains, and the sky. Look at the textures he coaxes from the paper. The dark, saturated strokes give way to soft, diluted edges, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere. The marks aren’t labored, they’re immediate. It feels like he's capturing a fleeting moment. See the little hut nestled among the trees? A single, perfect stroke defines its doorway. This piece reminds me of Cy Twombly's work, in the way that both artists manage to create so much with such apparent ease, embracing chance and improvisation. It's a reminder that art isn't about perfection, it's about capturing a feeling, an idea, a moment in time.