Subjects / Chinese painting and calligraphy
Best books to learn Chinese painting and calligraphy, in order
Chinese painting is hard to enter from a Western art-historical training because the things that carry value are different: the brushstroke rather than the image, the handscroll rather than the framed picture, the colophons and seals accumulated on the mounting rather than the composition alone.
Reading paths for chinese painting and calligraphy
Chinese Painting and Calligraphy: The Best Books to Read, in Order
Intermediate15books137 hrs5 stages
Popular chinese painting and calligraphy books
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Frequently asked questions
- How should I approach learning chinese painting and calligraphy?
- Chinese painting is hard to enter from a Western art-historical training because the things that carry value are different: the brushstroke rather than the image, the handscroll rather than the framed picture, the colophons and seals accumulated on the mounting rather than the composition alone.
- What's a good book to start chinese painting and calligraphy with?
- A strong starting point is Art in China by Craig Clunas. The ordered reading paths above show exactly where it fits and what to read next.
- What should I read after chinese painting and calligraphy?
- Once you have the fundamentals, explore closely related subjects like The Dutch Golden Age of painting.