Scrolls & ink paintings
A Chinese scroll joins painting, poem and seal, mounted in silk to roll away.
Read it, then hang it
Start with the subject
Landscapes, birds and flowers, or figures. Plum, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum are the Four Gentlemen, each a portrait of character.
Read the words and seals
The inscription gives the poem, date and name. Red seals belong to the artist, and later ones to collectors who owned it.
Hang it, then rest it
Light yellows paper, weakens silk and fades colors. Traditional households changed scrolls with the seasons and kept the rest rolled in a box.
Poetry, calligraphy and painting on one sheet.
Printed or painted?
Scrolls & ink paintings
Hand-picked pieces are on the way.
Good to know
How do you hang a Chinese scroll?
Use the silk loop at the top on a single nail or hook, lifting it with a forked pole if it is high. Let the bottom roller hang free, out of direct sun.
What are the red stamps on Chinese paintings?
They are seals. The artist stamps a name seal near the signature, and later owners add collector seals. A well-loved painting can carry many.
How do you read a Chinese scroll?
Text reads top to bottom, in columns from right to left. A handscroll opens from the right, an arm's length at a time, like walking through the scene.
