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I see this form on many paintings and prints. I have a print coming in the mail that has this form drawn on it. Picture is from that print. When received I will make a new post but in the mean time can anyone explain what this form represents. To me it looks like a carved piece of wood. Many thanks...

Here is another example of the carved wood from. There must be a special reason it is used often in paintings.

Just a guess, but presuming you mean the dark form, maybe the lingzhi 'fungus' (i.e., 'mushroom') of immortality in Daoist lore.

Best regards.

Bill H.

I think you might be onto something with your " lingzhi 'fungus' (i.e., 'mushroom') of immortality in Daoist lore " suggestion Bill H.
It seems to go along with the floral aspect of the print. There is also what looks like to me a "Chinese Alligator" on the print which would also fit in with your Daoist lore.

Now I can hardly wait to receive the print. Thanks again Bill H. and have a good one....

Dear Dave,
In Chinese gardening it is a commom thing to decorate the garden with strangely shaped stones. These stones are formed by nature and valued high.
Just try an internet picture search with Chinese, garden stones and you will see plenty of it.
Later you may go for a travel to Suzhou and Hanzhou....
Peter

Thanks Peter as this little mystery to me is now solved. I did travel to Suzhou & Hanzhou online and there are many beautiful shaped stones in the gardens and I can see why they are highly prized.
Thanks again & have a good one .....

As Peter noted it is a naturally formed stone formation. Usually formed by moving water and
wind. You can also search for scholar rock". They would be added to Chinese and Japanese gardens as
a meditative form.

Thanks John, pardon the pun but this is leading me down 'the garden path" in a new direction that I was unaware of. These rock formations with their abstract qualities could represent many different images to different viewers to enhance their own personal garden and / or space.
Thanks again & have a good one .....

Late to the party but I am happy you asked a question about artwork (instead of seal and signature readings). Both of the images you highlight show garden rocks, but each rock is also portrayed with a distinct "lingzhi" shape as Bill H. mentioned. That motif is also associated with the "ruyi" 如意 shape (https://bit.ly/38dsrUq) that appears on ritual scepters and in decorative patterns in ceramics, cloisonne, etc (see the images at https://bit.ly/3r8vypm). While the lingzhi fungus is associated with Daoism, the ruyi shape is associated with Buddhism. In practice, at least in recent centuries, I think they tend to blend together.

After a while, you start seeing them everywhere... In this Song handscroll, it appears in the negative space created by the mist rising behind the foreground trees (at the left of center in this detail: https://bit.ly/3gWMUAA). Here's another garden rock example in another early painting: https://bit.ly/2LBTQYj

Enjoy your print, I have always loved its vibrancy.

Hey rat the old saying goes " Better Late Than Never " and I am glad you joined in. Your knowledge and examples included have expanded my understanding.
Thanks again & have a good one.....

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