mandarin
[...]
c : a person of position and influence often in intellectual or literary circles; especially : an
elder and often traditionalist or reactionary member of such a circle

Origin of mandarin
Portuguese mandarim, from Malay mĕntĕri, from Sanskrit mantrin counselor, from mantra counsel

Pēc šī es domātu, ka "mandarin" nozīme ir par iekļaušanos tradicionālajās formās, bez pretenzijām uz jaunu, oriģinālu izpausmi mākslā.