Chinese Poetry as Art

Traditional Chinese painting is a combination, in the same picture, of the arts of poetry, calligraphy, painting, and seal engraving. In ancient times, most artists were poets and calligraphers. Su Dongpo (1037-1101), Ni Yunlin (1306-1374), and Dong Qichang (1555-1636) were such artists. To the Chinese, "painting in poetry and poetry in painting" has been one of the criteria for excellent works of art.

http://www.pasadena.edu/divisions/language/chinese/culture/painting_brief.cfm