The Hermit lodge in the middle of the table 1707

Shitao created this landscape painting in the 17th century using ink and color on paper. The materials are traditional, but the way Shitao uses them is radical. The fluidity of ink is key here. It's not just about rendering a scene; it's about evoking the very substance of nature – the mist, the dampness, the sheer verticality of the mountains. Look closely, and you'll see how the ink bleeds and flows, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere. This wasn’t just a technical exercise; it was a spiritual one. The literati painters of this era, like Shitao, saw painting as a way to cultivate the mind and express their inner selves. Consider too the social context: Shitao was a member of the fallen Ming dynasty, living under Manchu rule. His choice to depict a solitary hermitage might be read as a quiet act of resistance, a retreat from the world of politics and power. The painting reminds us that materials, making, and context are inseparable from the meaning of art.