**Originally Listed At $500**

East Asia, China, ca. 19th century CE. A beautiful ink on silk landscape painting depicting a mountainous scene with a few small, quaint houses in the middle ground and a hand-inked inscription that roughly translates, "I feel elegant taste when I am in the mountain peaks." This sentiment befits the traditional philosophy of Chinese literati painting in which a Confucian junzi (noble person) expressed his morals and ethical aspirations. The artist's signature is impressed in red with a seal beneath, though difficult to definitively decipher. The literati were scholar officials aspiring to government service for whom being educated in all the humane arts including painting and poetry was critical. Literati painters specialized in ink paintings with a minimalist color palette, placing greater emphasis on the idea that the way an artist controlled his brush conveyed his inner character. In other words, brushstrokes were more valuable as expressions of one's spirit rather than technical skill. This said, many believed and still believe that such "amateur" ink paintings of the literati are the highest form of Chinese art as opposed to academic painting occupying the apex of the artistic canon in China. Whereas many surviving examples possess overpainting which detracts from the original brushstrokes and decreases the value and authenticity of the original, we see no evidence of overpainting in this example. Furthermore, Chinese paintings are traditionally kept in storage and only taken out and viewed on special occasions, preserving their condition. Most collectors who wish to display Chinese ink paintings know to keep them out of direct sunlight. A very strong example, tastefully framed and matted, in remarkable condition. Size: painting itself measures 8.75" L x 6.25" W (22.2 cm x 15.9 cm); framed and matted 21.375" L x 16.5" W (54.3 cm x 41.9 cm)

Provenance: Ex-Denenberg Fine Arts, Los Angeles, CA.

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#117443

Frame shows minor nicks and wear. One tiny frayed area at upper right edge and tiny area of discoloration in center, else intact and excellent with no overpainting.