The heavenly soldiers battle theme is the heart of this monkey king scroll painting, and it beats steadily. Line quality is the quiet hero here, steady and expressive at once. As a piece of chinese silk scroll painting, it reads clearly from across the room and keeps giving on closer inspection.
Painted with an easy, practiced brush, the heavenly soldiers feels observed rather than invented. Clouds soften the transitions between the composition's zones. Against the silk ground, the battle reads clearly at any distance. The brushwork has the ease of long practice and the care of a first attempt. There is an unhurried rhythm to the brushwork that sets the tone of the whole piece.
For a home leaning toward ink wash painting, this scroll is a natural fit. A considered gift for housewarmings, retirements, and quiet milestones. It sits as happily in a modern loft as in a traditional study.
