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How do inscriptions and seals contribute to a Chinese painting?

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ceremonial hu — Chinese painting Drawing of ancestral offering scenes (ritual archery, sericulture, hunting, and warfare) cast on a ceremonial bronze *hu,* 6th–5th century bc, Zhou dynasty. In the Palace Museum, Peking.

In Chinese painting, the artist’s signature, inscriptions, and seals are considered an integral part of the composition. These elements contribute to the work in several significant ways:1

Compositional Integration: Rather than being separate from the artwork, these markings are carefully placed to harmonize with the overall design.1
Authentication and Provenance: Seals, which are typically made of materials like jade, wood, or ivory and impressed in red ink, serve as a means for artists and collectors to mark their works. For art historians, these seals are essential tools for authenticating paintings and calligraphies.2
Historical and Connoisseurial Value: A painting may gain interest and value through the addition of colophons—inscriptions added by later connoisseurs—which provide a record of the work's history and appreciation over time.1
Personal Expression: Inscriptions and the use of various seals (often reflecting an artist's sobriquets or personal tastes) allow the creator to express their individuality, cultivation, and character, aligning with the tradition that views painting and calligraphy as deeply personal, expressive arts.123