Landscape with Hut in the Ming Painting Style

Traditional scholars and artists liked to collaborate in decorating folding fans as gifts to friends. In this case, the famous scholar and calligrapher Qi Gong depicted a thatched hut in a remote place, while another calligrapher named Ma Chengji wrote a poetic text in running script on the other side of the folding fan. Qi signed this painting “After the brushwork of Ming dynasty artists,” suggesting he studied ink painting by imitating the traditional styles of old masters. Calligraphy and ink painting are closely related in Chinese art as both art forms emphasize the quality of brushwork and composition.