A pine tree colorful gongbi scene unfolds across this tiger scroll painting, composed with a scholar's restraint. Lines are laid down with conviction, then left alone to stand on their own. As a piece of chinese silk scroll painting, it reads clearly from across the room and keeps giving on closer inspection.
Precise draftsmanship underlies the bright surface, the gongbi signature. The waterfall falls in stages, each tier catching a different light. Against the silk ground, the pine tree reads clearly at any distance. The picture keeps its own counsel, revealing itself a little at a time. There is a generosity in the open space, room for the viewer to enter.
As a piece of elegant chinese wall scroll, it carries the calm authority of the classical tradition. A calm picture for a busy house, and all the more welcome for it. Hang it where the light is gentle and give it a little breathing room.
