The Versatile Master Artist

Chapter 146 - 102: Mirror Image (Bonus - for Patron)

(This Chapter is a bonus, there will be another update tonight, but it’s not guaranteed to be before midnight.)

(Thanks again to the great Alston-king for your support!)

Late night,

Zoom online conference room.

"This painting’s pastoral style easily reminds me of Giorgione’s ’Concert Champêtre’. The author aims to achieve a harmonious pastoral dreamscape by harmonizing the styles of garden and untamed nature. To be honest, the concept is good, but unfortunately, the painter’s skill doesn’t meet the ambition of the composition...

"If we compare it to Odilon Redon, who also loves painting pastoral scenes..."

Gu Weijing, wearing headphones, listened with interest to Mr. Tree Sloth and Curator Tangkis’ interpretation of the last pastoral painting, occasionally adding a couple of his own insights.

Listening to these esteemed experts discuss art is indeed an enjoyable experience.

In ’Fu Lei’s Family Letters’, it is mentioned that musician Fu Cong loved to accompany his father Fu Lei to visit Uncle Qian Zhongshu as a child. The children of the whole Qinghua Courtyard took great delight in sitting on small stools, listening to Master Qian talk about art, literature, and various topics, with wit and humor.

Gu Weijing now felt a similar sensation.

To communicate closely with such experts is a joy and an honor, which is the charm of salon culture that flourished in Old Europe.

His expertise in Calligraphy and Painting Identification Skill lies in the ability to review an independent piece of artwork.

The system enables Gu Weijing to deconstruct a painting into countless details and fragments, much like a butcher dissecting a cow.

But when it comes to grasping and interpreting the entire art trend,

he falls far short.

Ultimately, it is a matter of perspective causing disparity.

He is merely a nobody with a small gallery on the remote Yangon Riverfront.

Since his ancestors had taken root in Myanmar, they have been out of the central art sphere.

Europe and America regard this place as a desert of Modern Art, which is both a prejudice and a reality.

In terms of awareness of global art development, let alone the two art masters, even Miss Jiu Jing Shengzi is leagues above him.

Watching Mr. Tree Sloth and Curator Tangkis cite from various sources, starting from a tiny painting and connecting to classic painters in art history and sorting through different painting styles.

It’s like an on-the-spot super VIP one-on-one art history course.

Enough to make ordinary art enthusiasts insanely jealous.

Conversely, Curator Tangkis and Anna—what they felt was joy.

Lady Detective Cat’s grasp of painting details is just too strong.

For professional art critics, the biggest frustration when appreciating a piece of art is the occasional feeling of being unable to express what you want to convey clearly.

They always regret their expressions lack penetration, unable to fully articulate their views.

For instance, when you describe certain colors as somewhat dry.

What does dry mean?

It seems like everyone understands, yet not really.

More of a feeling, explaining it clearly is quite difficult.

Yet Lady Detective Cat can always catch on at the right moment, breaking down this point from the painter’s details—there was an issue with color juxtaposition, the paint was too thin, causing color points to not mix properly.

Straightforward and direct.

This phrase, as light as a feather, is like yanking damp and rough tanned leather from your nostrils or like a sharp silver needle piercing a swollen boil on your face.

This gratifying feeling is indeed beyond words to describe.

Now, an hour has passed since the podcast started recording, already far exceeding the planned time. Curator Tangkis’ assistant had knocked on the study door, reminding the curator of the time.

The curator casually dismissed them.

He was having a great time chatting, other things could wait.

Mr. Tangkis was clearly thrilled, his face looked flushed in front of the camera, his bald forehead gleamed, and his small eyes sparkled.

Any little displeasures at the beginning of the podcast recording had long been tossed aside by Curator Tangkis.

For a middle-aged artist, such a soul-striking pleasure is much better than telling a dirty joke to delight young girls.

"Lady Detective Cat, are you interested in taking a role as a special junior art researcher at the Taylor Art Gallery, responsible for explaining the collection pieces every day?"

The main body of the salon recording had concluded with the discussion of the final pastoral painting.

Now it was time for the guests’ chat—summarizing the podcast content, and letting guests say a few words on topics they were interested in.

Like the casual conversation to build connections after a dinner party.

This segment could be long or short, a long one could last a dozen minutes, or if the interest was low, it could end swiftly.

Curator Tangkis clearly hadn’t had enough of the conversation, heartily offering an Offer.

Junior art researcher?

Anna immediately perked up her ears.

"Lady Detective Cat has such excellent painting skills, it seems a bit wasteful to abandon the identity of an artist to become a museum guide."

She gave Tangkis a slightly annoyed look.

This bald old British man seemed a bit annoying to her.

Trying to steal my person?

Anna absolutely couldn’t accept Lady Detective Cat abandoning the artist profession to spend time doing art education for the general public.

"Guide" actually somewhat insults the position of a junior art researcher.

They are more like the head of a small exhibition hall compared to museum guides.

The personnel configuration of art galleries is similar to universities; the so-called junior art researcher is akin to a lecturer or assistant in a university.