Literati (wenren) painting is a school of Chinese art theory in which painting functions as personal, non-commercial self-expression by scholar-officials rather than as a skill aimed at pleasing a buyer or achieving formal likeness; it is characterized by a spare, "dry brush" technique, restrained use of ink, and subject matter (e.g., bamboo, rock) treated as metaphor for character. It belongs to Chinese art history and intersects with the political/social history of the scholar-official (civil service exam) class, and it reframes the concept of "amateur" (from Latin amare, "to love") as a marker of authenticity rather than inferior skill, in contrast to court or commercial painting produced for status or sale.
Literati (wenren) painting is a school of Chinese art theory in which painting functions as personal, non-commercial self-expression by scholar-officials rather than as a skill aimed at pleasing a bu…