Ming Painting Sells For $10m?

according to http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071107/lf_n…
Why? I can’t see what the fuss is about.http://blog.dreamhost.com/wp-content/upl…

2 Responses to “Ming Painting Sells For $10m?”

rickyhan(2009-07-09):

I studied that artist briefly in a class during college. Not only was he highly influential during his time, but he influenced many artists for a very long time.
Essentially, a hand scroll, a very personal and intimate painting, is intended to be viewed by ones self and contemplated. Works like these have been coveted by collectors for hundreds and hundreds of years. It was a high honor to have such a work in your family. To have one passed down to you was like having a family cabin, or family bible, passed down to you in a western culture.
With that being said, very few of this artists works (or works from this period) exist. There are quite a few collectors of this type of art around, be it culturally influence or not. So, high demand and very very low supply equals the extremely high prices for the sale.
I am not saying this artist has better art than any historic painter, I am just saying that his art is very collectible.
—Ricky H.
edzerne(2009-07-09):

A painting like this is not meant to be flashy in the sense of being a “rock star painting” or a comic book image such as the second image you link to….
these paintings were meant to be comtemplated privately or with a friend… and it would be considered an honor should a friend share such a painting with you.
I would suggest that you cannot see enough of the painting’s detail to understand it let along appreciate it.