Confucian Forest 

Wu Guanzhong made this work, Confucian Forest, with ink and color on paper. The loose brushstrokes of ink, applied with deliberate speed, allow the white of the paper to show through, creating depth within the forest scene. Notice how the ink bleeds and blurs, adding to the atmospheric effect. Wu was trained in both traditional Chinese ink painting techniques, as well as Western oil painting, and he blends these traditions here. The washes of color suggest the landscape, but the painting is not about precise representation. Rather, it's the quality of the line, the textures created by the brush, and the overall composition that matter most. Wu GuanZhong’s art was deeply rooted in his personal history, growing up during a time of rapid social change in China. Ultimately, Confucian Forest invites us to consider the relationship between the artist’s individual expression and the rich traditions of Chinese ink painting.