Chinese Classical & Modern Drawings

Historically, Chinese drawing included both figural ink or watercolor sketches as well as calligraphic writings on paper. Similar to Chinese paintings, drawings are marked by dynamic use of line. Expression through penmanship, therefore, is elevated in Chinese culture to the ranks of high art forms like painting.

Chinese drawings, rather than merely depicting life by appearances, sought to capture expression and feeling by channeling it from the artist, through the brush, and onto paper. Understanding the spirit of the subject was more important than the physical resemblance. Calligraphy, with each word defined by its own unique drawing, became an important form of art with the emergence of written language in China, starting before 1500 B.C.

Quick Facts

• The Chinese have long embraced drawing for its clarity, energy, and aesthetic form
• In ancient China, calligraphy was viewed as a higher art form than painting until the Song Dynasty, when painting became closely associated with calligraphy
• Chinese drawings originated first as ornamental decorations on everyday objects before becoming appreciated on their own