A Life in Ink and Stone Born in 1766 during the Qing dynasty, Wen Ding lived a life defined by the precision of the brush and the permanence of the seal. He was a man of many disciplines, moving between the fluid grace of a painter, the disciplined structure of a calligrapher, and the meticulous carving required of a seal cutter. His work reflects a deep engagement with the classical traditions of his era, shaped significantly by the s…