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Why could Chinese painters not easily correct mistakes on silk or paper?
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Chinese art
A discussion of Chinese art, from the documentary China: West Meets East at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
In Chinese painting, artists cannot easily correct mistakes because the surfaces of silk and paper are highly absorbent.1
Because the medium is designed to soak up ink immediately, it does not allow for erasure or correction. Consequently, a painter must possess a clear vision of the work before beginning. The execution of a piece requires immense confidence, speed, and a mastery of technique that can only be achieved through long practice. This process is closely linked to the traditions of Chinese calligraphy, where the vitality and expressiveness of the brushstroke are the primary focus, demanding that the artist transmit the inner life of their subject through the rhythmic movement of the brush.12