There is nothing fussy about this scroll: a mountain-and-water landscape, honest brushwork, and room to breathe. Painters never tired of the landscape, and looking at this scroll, neither will you. You'll notice waterfall, cliff and river woven through the composition, giving the eye somewhere to wander.
The ink wash manner suits the subject perfectly — a few tones of black ink carry the whole scene. In Chinese painting, falling water is the steady flow of fortune, never still. Color stays fresh greens — enough to lift the ink, never enough to shout. The painting seems to breathe with the day's light, changing in small ways. At eye level it invites a closer look, yet never shouts over the room. It is the sort of artwork that looks different each time you walk past it.
Keep the furniture simple and let this scroll do the talking. Gift-wise, it is a safe delight for collectors of Chinese art, new or seasoned. It is a fine example of waterfall and cliff Chinese painting, the kind of piece that grows on you.
