One layer at a time

Therefore, the final image remains faithful to the original while also bearing the judgment, skill and material understanding of the person who made it.

Li studied fine art before university and developed an interest in printmaking during college. He joined Rongbaozhai where he has spent decades working with paintings from different periods, artists and styles.

That variety is what keeps the challenge alive. "The technique is only a starting point. Every new work is a new challenge. A Tang (618-907) or Song (960-1279) painting may demand one set of skills, but a work created during the 20th century may demand another. Contemporary paintings can present an entirely different set of problems."

For Li, no single formula applies.