FEATURES ARCHIVE

1. What do the different seals on a scroll mean?
Many Chinese paintings contain evidence of their history. The different seals on a scroll allow viewers to appreciate the work’s background. In addition to signing the work, an artist stamps his seal on a painting to indicate his name, courtesy name, the year, and even the name of his studio. Some other seals are biographical, and others reflect the artist’s mood. For example Fu Baoshi had a special seal to suggest that he was drunk when he painted a work; while Qi Baishi had a seal which boasted how many seals he owned. Some seals are quite satirical and amusing. Finally, by looking at the collector’s seals, you can trace a work’s provenance, as many owners like to place their marks on the painting that they were proud to own.

2. Does the presence of calligraphy mean the work is more important?
Calligraphic inscriptions function in the same way as seals:  together they record who the artist is and where or for whom the work was painted. Artists often include a quote they like or an auspicious saying that might relate to the meaning of the painting, but it is not essential. For example, paintings from the Yuan dynasty and earlier rarely contain many inscriptions.  It was with the advent of literati paintings that calligraphy began to play a larger and more narrative role in Chinese paintings.

3. Can I roll up the scroll for safe-keeping?
You can, and in some cases, you must. Chinese paintings come in different formats. A hanging scroll must be rolled up to be stored. Handscrolls also must be rolled up - you read them from right to left, like a moving picture that depicts different scenes from the same narrative. Other formats include screens, albums and fans, which you would not roll up.

4. How can one ensure that the condition of a piece is preserved well?
Most of these paintings are on paper or on silk. They are always mounted (attached to a backing) by the artists because the paper or silk is too flimsy on its own. If the mounting is good, it helps to preserve the painting. But it is also important to occasionally air a painting, so that it does not get mouldy from humidity or crack because of dryness. It is also crucial to avoid frass (worm excrement) and insect infestation!