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Rare ink-wash paintings on loan from Sichuan
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ART from both the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties is known for simplicity. The works of reputed painters like Bada Shanren, Shi Tao and Lan Ying are now being exhibited at Zhejiang Art Museum until Sunday.
The “all-star” lineup of more than 60 paintings is on loan from Sichuan Museum.
Traditional Chinese paintings involve essentially the same techniques as calligraphy. They are done with a brush dipped in black or colored ink; oil paints are not used. As with calligraphy, paper and silk are the most popular materials used by artists to paint on.
Beginning in the 13th century, painting simple subjects — a branch with fruit, a few flowers, or one or two horses, for example — developed although narrative paintings with a wider color range and busier compositions also became popular.
Most old paintings appear a bit “brown” as the paper has been discolored after so many years.
“Sichuan Museum seldom lends these paintings out as they are fragile and some of them are being shown to the public for the first time,” says Si Shunwei, director of Zhejiang Art Museum.
Works related to Zhejiang have been chosen for the exhibition. They include paintings from the Zhejiang School, painters from Zhejiang, and landscapes featuring West Lake. During the Ming Dynasty some painters from the Zhejiang School specialized in making large and decorative paintings.
Chen Hongshou’s “Youjun Cages Goose” tells the story of how the country’s most famous calligraphist, Wang Xizhi, loved petting geese so much that he was willing to trade his calligraphy works for a goose.
In the painting, simple lines depict a joyful looking figure with a cloak swaying in the wind.
During the early Qing Dynasty, a group of painters who became known as Individualists strayed from many of the traditional rules of painting and found ways to express themselves with freer brush strokes.
“The Wood and Eagle” by Bada depicts a bare tree, on which an eagle with sharp eyes proudly perches. Critics believe the eagle represents the painter.
Bada’s real name is Zhu Da and grew up in the age when the Qing court replaced the Ming. He became a refugee for many years and after 40 years away he re-entered society as a professional painter.
Historians believed he had a mental illness. The stylized vertical writing of his pseudonym Bada Shanren looks like the characters for laugh and cry.
Another highlight that occupies an entire exhibition hall is an album by Yu Xifan of the Qing Dynasty. The album’s 22 paintings depict 22 scenes in Hangzhou. Zhejiang Art Museum specifically asked for these works to be part of the exhibition even though Yu is not as famous as Bada or Shi Tao.
In the album we can see the Broken Bridge with a pavilion, which didn’t exist now. The Bai Causeway depicted was surrounded by farms and the original Leifeng Pagoda stands in the background.
Date: Through April 12, 9am-4:30pm
Address: Zhejiang Art Museum,
25 Gushan Rd
Tel: (0571) 8707-8700
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