Bit by Bit - Chapter 21, Part 12

Trey Smith

Lord Wan of Sung wanted to have some pictures painted. The crowd of court clerks all gathered in his presence, received their drawing panels, and took their places in line, licking their brushes, mixing their inks, so many of them that there were more outside the room than inside it. There was one clerk who arrived late, sauntering in without the slightest haste. When he received his drawing panel, he did not look for a place in line, but went straight to his own quarters. The ruler sent someone to see what he was doing, and it was found that he had taken off his robes, stretched out his legs, and was sitting there naked. "Very good," said the ruler. "This is a true artist!"
~ Burton Watson translation ~

I have never been good at artwork. Whether drawing or painting, it looks like the work of a crazed baboon! Now I know what I've been doing wrong. Next time I try it, I will first strip down naked!

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