Through this essay, we learn the way of looking and perceiving landscape paintings. He brings out the essence of landscape painting by guiding us on how we should view such paintings in terms of our mentality and eye movement, like if we view a painting with the heart of appreciating the nature, the artwork will be valuable to the beholder, otherwise, it will be hard to appreciate his works. Also, when viewing a painting, we should view from afar to take in the whole scenic environment depiction he has created. Through this, he wants the viewer to appreciate the mood and idea behind several elements he curated in his works.
Also, the essay highlights the individuality and persistence of Guo Xi which we can prominently when he lives in an era where calligraphy and poems are placed above paintings, but he persisted with what he wants ultimately and became a notable painter in the whole of China art history.
With this, I am deeply inspired by Guo Xi’s deep yet comprehensive ideology which can be seen from his more than meets the eye paintings. From mist that can represent deities or the unreachable to seasons that can relate to different moods, I can feel the profundity behind his concept and thinking and this is what I really looked up to.