A Life Woven with Ink and Rain The story of Wu Shixian (1845 – 1916) is one inextricably linked to the twilight years of the Qing Dynasty, a period of profound transformation in China. Born in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, into a family steeped in intellectual pursuits, Wu’s early life was marked by exposure to traditional learning and a burgeoning interest in Western art—a relatively new phenomenon rapidly infiltrating Shanghai at the time. Unlike many of his contemporaries who embraced overtly political or revolutionary themes, Wu chose to focus on capturing the ephemeral beauty of nature,…