Shen Zhou 沈周

Shen Zhou (1427–1509) was a Chinese painter and calligrapher, renowned as a leading figure of the Wu School during the Ming Dynasty. Born in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, Shen Zhou was part of a literati family, which allowed him to pursue his artistic interests without the constraints of officialdom. He is celebrated for his landscape paintings, which reflect the influence of earlier masters while also embodying a personal, expressive style that emphasized spontaneity and brushwork. Shen Zhou's work significantly contributed to the development of literati painting, emphasizing the artist's personal expression over formal representation. His legacy includes a profound impact on subsequent generations of Chinese artists, particularly in the realm of ink painting and calligraphy.