How do Chinese painters use brush pressure to vary a brushstroke?

In Chinese painting, the brushstroke is the primary focus of both the artist and the viewer, serving as the fundamental element for transmitting the inner life of the subject. Because the absorbent nature of silk or paper allows for no erasure or correction, painters must master the use of the brush through long practice to achieve the necessary confidence and speed.12

To vary the width and character of a brushstroke, the painter utilizes the flexibility of the brush tip—which is typically made from the hair of goats, deer, or wolves—by applying varying degrees of downward pressure. By pressing the brush more firmly against the surface, the artist broadens the stroke, while lighter pressure results in finer lines. This subtle, controlled manipulation of the brush tip determines the dynamic quality of the brushwork, creating a rhythmic movement that defines the form and provides the composition with its characteristic harmony and unity.123