TL;DR
Get art and craft supplies delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
Hyperallergic published “Six Persimmons,” a chapter excerpt from art critic Will Heinrich’s book From Darkness to Darkness, due from Thousand Horsemen Press in summer 2026. The chapter follows a critic’s trip to San Francisco to see a rare, ancient Chinese ink painting and reflects on art, work, family and memory. The source does not establish a separate exhibition announcement or provide the painting’s travel dates.
Hyperallergic has published “Six Persimmons,” an excerpt from art critic Will Heinrich’s book From Darkness to Darkness, planned for publication by Thousand Horsemen Press in summer 2026. The chapter recounts a critic’s trip to San Francisco to see the celebrated Chinese ink painting Six Persimmons, attributed to Muqi Fachang, while connecting the encounter to his work, family life and past.
The publication identifies “Six Persimmons” as an excerpted chapter from Heinrich’s book and says the volume will be available online and through independent booksellers. The supplied report presents the chapter as literary nonfiction, not as a new museum announcement or a conventional exhibition review. Its central event is the narrator Jonah’s journey from New York to San Francisco to see the painting at the Asian Art Museum.
In the chapter, Jonah is an art critic who has compiled annual previews of upcoming museum exhibitions. He asks his editor to assign him to cover the painting’s display, arguing that its journey from Japan to San Francisco is an unusual opportunity. The editor says the art section has no travel budget, citing the cost of reporting on the war in Ukraine. Jonah decides to go anyway, using credit-card points for a flight and staying with his cousin.
The painting is described in the excerpt as a still life of persimmons attributed to Muqi Fachang, a Chinese artist active in the 13th century. The chapter says a Japanese monastery acquired it when it was already nearly 300 years old, and that it had been kept mostly rolled up and out of view since the early 16th century. Those details appear in the source’s narrative; the material supplied does not include independent verification or further information about the work’s ownership and exhibition schedule.
A Painting Seen Through a Critic’s Life
The excerpt’s news value is the publication of a new chapter from Heinrich’s forthcoming book, rather than a confirmed change in the painting’s status. It gives readers a preview of a book that uses an art encounter as a route into personal history: Jonah’s trip is shaped by the demands of freelance work, the limits of a newsroom budget, his role as a parent and his effort to spend time alone.
The painting also anchors the chapter in a specific question about how people encounter art. Jonah has written about exhibitions without seeing many of the works firsthand; this time, he chooses to travel despite the lack of an assignment. The source frames that decision as personally meaningful to him. It does not provide evidence for broader claims about the painting’s influence or the public response to its display.
Popular right now
Breville Bambino Espresso Machine, Brushed Stainless Steel
De'Longhi Magnifica Start Fully Automatic Espresso Machine with Milk Frother, Silver
Samsung 48 4K OLED Smart TV (2026) with WireLogic 8ft Ultra High Speed HDMI Cable
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
The Exhibit Behind the Journey
The excerpt opens with Jonah preparing annual fall museum previews, a task that involves reviewing press releases and summarizing shows he has not seen. The chance to write about Six Persimmons stands out because, as the chapter explains, the painting was making a brief visit to the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco from a Japanese monastery.
The narrative places this trip within Jonah’s family life: his daughter Orly is six, and the journey will be his longest time alone since her birth. It also recalls an earlier San Francisco visit and contrasts that youthful trip with the more practical feel of traveling for a museum visit. The book’s editor’s note identifies the excerpt’s title as “Six Persimmons” and credits Heinrich as its author.
Exhibition Details Not Supplied
The source does not give the dates of the painting’s San Francisco display, the full exhibition title, or details about any other works shown alongside it. It also does not explain the monastery’s name, the conditions governing the painting’s loan, or the basis for the attribution to Muqi Fachang. The provided excerpt ends partway through Jonah’s visit to Chinatown, so it does not establish what he ultimately thinks of the painting or how the chapter concludes.
The source identifies the work as attributed to Muqi Fachang; it does not state that authorship is certain. Readers should also distinguish the chapter’s narrative details from separately verified exhibition information: no museum statement or additional source material was supplied here.
The Book’s Summer Release
From Darkness to Darkness is scheduled for publication by Thousand Horsemen Press in summer 2026, according to the editor’s note accompanying the excerpt. The publisher’s note says it will be available online and through independent booksellers. The supplied material gives no exact release date.
Further information about the book, including a publication date and any additional excerpts or events, was not included in the source. The report also provides no forthcoming milestone for the painting’s exhibition beyond describing its San Francisco visit in the chapter.
Key Questions
What is “The Zen Mona Lisa” about?
The supplied report identifies “Six Persimmons” as a chapter excerpt from Will Heinrich’s forthcoming book. It follows an art critic’s trip to see an ancient Chinese ink painting and reflects on his work, family and memories. The source does not explain the headline’s “Zen Mona Lisa” wording further.
Who wrote the excerpt?
Will Heinrich, an art critic, wrote the chapter. Hyperallergic published it as an excerpt from his book From Darkness to Darkness.
What is Six Persimmons?
It is a Chinese ink painting depicting six persimmons, attributed in the source to Muqi Fachang, who was active in the 13th century. The chapter says it was held by a Japanese monastery and had been mostly kept rolled up since the early 16th century.
When will From Darkness to Darkness be released?
Thousand Horsemen Press planned to publish the book in summer 2026, according to the editor’s note. No specific date was provided.
When was the painting shown in San Francisco?
The excerpt says the painting made a brief visit to the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco, but the supplied source does not give exhibition dates or additional scheduling information.
Source: hyperallergic.com
