Emperor Minghuang's Journey to Sichuan (detail) 

This section of "Emperor Minghuang's Journey to Sichuan" was painted by Qiu Ying in the 16th century. The journey unfolds across a landscape constructed with layered colours and forms. The pale greens and blues that dominate the scene create an ethereal, almost dreamlike quality. Notice how the artist uses colour to define the shapes of the mountains and the water, creating depth and distance. The figures on horseback are small, but carefully placed to lead the eye through the landscape. The composition is not just a depiction of a journey, but also a study in how we perceive space. Qiu Ying plays with perspective, flattening certain areas while emphasizing depth in others. The scene becomes a meditation on representation itself. The cultural significance of journeys and landscapes in Chinese art is undeniable, but here, Ying seems to be asking us to consider how we construct meaning through visual cues. This work remains open to interpretation, inviting us to explore the interplay between form, space, and cultural context.