Art Institute of Chicago

Scholar's Rock or Brushrest

China

Date

Qing dynasty (1644–1911), 18th century

Medium

Stone (probably Lingbi stone)

Culture

China

Department

Arts of Asia

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

Resting upon a dark, varnished wooden base, this rugged and craggy rock with numerous holes and crevices was likely displayed in a scholar’s studio during the Qing Dynasty, possibly serving as a brush stand. Its saturated black color, juxtaposed with the light-brown texturing, gives the rock a moist and glossy appearance. This surface quality hints at the rock’s potential origin in Lingbi, Anhui province – the renowned source of the finest scholar’s rocks. Sometimes, the found rocks were carved to enhance their visual appeal. The natural yet fantastical aesthetics of rocks like this evoke mountain landscapes that seem almost animated when viewed from different angles. To Qing scholars, these rocks represented microcosms of the universe, accessible within the confines of their own studios.

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