A few years ago, buying a house allowed me to observe the lives of homeowners up close. I also came to realize that a decent life shouldn't just be reflected on the property deed; it should be right at the doorstep.

In recent years, self-media platforms have given rise to numerous home bloggers with a refined aesthetic, leading to a surge in interest in home furnishings. Some have meticulously researched sofas, flooring, chandeliers, and carpets, even tracing back to the designers' origins. In a sense, we're more like aesthetic porters, bringing high-end international aesthetics to China, allowing more people to experience, understand, and emulate them.

I've noticed an interesting phenomenon: after buying all the necessary furniture, with decent chandeliers and flooring, the moment you look at the walls—the paintings—your aesthetic flaws are immediately exposed.

This phenomenon is often seen in the beautiful photos of many sophisticated home bloggers: the wall paintings are clearly mismatched, artificially lowering the style. Some try to summarize a few guidelines for hanging paintings, which sound reasonable, but when it comes to choosing for yourself, everything goes haywire—the key is that they don't even know where the problem lies.

So I always say, if you really can't decide, it's better not to hang a painting. My own home has blank walls because I like the clean, empty space—it keeps my mind clear.

Speaking of "heart," this is perhaps the most fundamental criterion for choosing a painting: if a painting doesn't capture your heart, it's better not to hang it.

I've always disagreed with treating paintings as mere decoration. Decoration implies cheapness and casualness, not the openness of a blank wall. I've always believed that even a reproduction should convey the artist's heartbeat and state of mind at the time of creation.

As the saying goes, the scene follows the mind, and the painting is born from the heart.

A good painting is one that makes you stop and stare. It doesn't reason, but rather conveys emotion. We see many works in art galleries that are difficult to understand, but you're still willing to buy them because they capture the artist's state of mind. A true masterpiece is no longer about "likeness" but "likeness to oneself."

How can you tell if a painting is heartfelt? At least these points cannot be ignored:

1.Uniqueness, not replicability

If you're buying a purely hand-painted work, it should be unique. True artists do not and should not repeatedly copy their own works. Those who mass-produce are not artists, but skilled artisans.

Of course, the "copying" mentioned here does not include giclee prints or reproductions. For true masterpieces, giclee prints are a means of presenting the original and conveying its artistic value, not a means of disguising them as originals.

2. Unique expression and a distinct artistic language

Truly mature artists undergo systematic painting training early on, gradually developing their own unique expression over time. Judging a painting is like identifying a person; style is their signature. What makes a painting appealing is often not the complexity of the technique, but rather the individuality and attitude that distinguish it from the crowd.

3. Solid craftsmanship and sophisticated technique

This requires a certain level of expertise to judge. For example, without advanced professional training, it's difficult to understand the rhythm and control behind Sanyu's lines.

Many paintings appear similar, but are actually soulless sketches; others appear sloppily executed, yet they reveal the artist's individuality. For this reason, many people consult a professional painter before purchasing a painting to help them determine the care and sincerity behind the technique.

Why do I emphasize these criteria?

Among the pictures sent back by our clients at Magico Home a considerable number of them do have obvious flaws in their painting choices. The problem isn't that the paintings aren't beautiful, but rather that they lack aesthetics, attitude, and, to be sure, heart. On the contrary, I've also seen displays in some high-end home furnishing stores, and the quality of the paintings there is exceptional—this demonstrates that true beauty isn't about whether something is present, but about whether the careful selection is made.

The most frightening thing isn't a lack of taste, but the loss of discernment after a long period of exposure to low aesthetic standards. When you truly desire spiritual beauty and strive to reach a higher level of aesthetic appreciation, you find your judgment has long been numbed by the bland, cookie-cutter, pseudo-decorations.

A truly good painting is one you're willing to stop for, to look at more than once a day, and to let it dwell in your heart.

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