The Reclusive Genius: Shitao and the Art of Individual Expression Shitao, a towering figure in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, stands as one of China’s most individualistic and influential painters. Born into a prominent scholar-official family around 1642 – precise dates remain elusive, characteristic of his deliberately obscured personal history – Shitao navigated a period of immense upheaval and transition with an unwavering commitment to artistic self-expression. His life was deeply marked by the fall of the Ming dynasty in 1644, an event that profoundly shaped his worldview and…