The landscape and flower-and-bird types of painting, together with the
earlier human figure painting,
comprise the three main categories of traditional Chinese painting.
The court style of painting tended to be elaborate and ornate.
In contrast, the literati painters perfer to paint according to their own fancy
and without restriction, and advocate a fresh, free, understated, and elegant style.
The names of the sender and recipient, along with the chop of the artist,
are an integral part of a traditional Chinese painting.