The Willow in Winter 1997

Li Huasheng made 'The Willow in Winter' with ink, probably in one go. The wash of greys suggests a cold, quiet landscape. The willow tree itself is all drooping lines, like it's sighing. I can imagine him using a big, soft brush, loaded with ink, making those broad, sweeping strokes for the rocks and the distant building. It feels like the kind of painting you do when you want to capture a mood, a moment of stillness. I can imagine him thinking about other painters, like the old masters, and how they used ink to create these incredible, atmospheric worlds. This painting reminds me that artists are always in conversation with each other, borrowing ideas and techniques, and adding their own spin. The gesture is light but sure, as though he had a sense of the image already in his mind. It’s like he’s saying, "Here's what I saw, here's what I felt, and here's how I made it happen.”