Landscape after Fan Kuan (active ca. 990–1030), from the Mustard Seed Garden Manual of Painting 1679

Wang Gai created "Landscape after Fan Kuan" around 1679 from the Mustard Seed Garden Manual of Painting using ink on paper. The composition presents a stark yet intricate landscape within a fan-shaped frame, focusing on the interplay between line and form. Gai employs a meticulous network of fine lines to define the mountains, trees, and architectural elements, creating a sense of depth and texture, although colour is absent. This visual language is more than descriptive, it embodies the essence of the landscape tradition through structure, similar to structuralist principles. The semiotic weight of the image rests in its ability to challenge the viewers understanding of art, landscape and representation as it engages with the historical weight of Fan Kuan. The manual invites both imitation and interpretation, thus destabilizing the concept of fixed meanings. This work not only reflects historical artistic practices but also encourages a continuous re-evaluation of how we perceive and represent the world around us.