It’s the picture of my stamp. The inside Chinese characters, represent my Chinese name and the word painter.
It’s an old Chinese custom that I find very interesting. Chinese often use stamp instead of signature. Stamps, in China, has legal value and can/must be used in contract and documents.
The origin of this custom, it’s very old. The emperor use to sign law and communication by his personal seal, a big stamp. This usage is originates precisely the imperial seal.
It’s currently in common use, and almost every person has one of it. Someone decide to don’t use it and to sign instead, other to use both, or only the stamp.
I started using it, since I live in china, in the authentication, I write behind every painting.
