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Friend's portrait reflects Shanghai ink-wash style
By Zhao Dan |
June 27, 2010, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
REN Yi, better known as Ren Bonian, was a master of Chinese ink-wash painting in the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).
The Hangzhou native learned painting from his father when he was a child and moved to Shanghai at age 14.
Ren was especially famous for portrait painting and his works are judged to be representative of the Shanghai ink-wash style of the era.
He also did portraits of his friends, including painting masters Wu Changshuo, Xu Gu and Gao Yongzhi.
Ren and Gao's friendship lasted many decades and one of Gao's portraits by Ren is on show in the Shanghai Museum.
Ren did the painting when he was 38 years old, and Gao was 28.
In the painting, Gao sits on rocks with both hands around his knees.
Ren concentrated his strokes on Gao's eyes and raised head to emphasise his spirit and vitality.
The background scenery was drawn by another painter, Hu Gongshou.
Pine trees and branches show the energy of life, harmonious with the spirit Ren showed in drawing the human subject.
Ren focused on the person's nature, spirit and temperament, rather than a resemblance of the subject.
This is also a characteristic of traditional Chinese art.
Gao was also an influential painter at the time and had been the head of Shanghai Yuyuan Association of Calligraphy and Painting.
He often wrote poems for Ren's paintings, or painted together with him.
Ren portrayed Gao three times, indicating their deep and long-lasting friendship and this exhibit is deemed the best of the three.
The Hangzhou native learned painting from his father when he was a child and moved to Shanghai at age 14.
Ren was especially famous for portrait painting and his works are judged to be representative of the Shanghai ink-wash style of the era.
He also did portraits of his friends, including painting masters Wu Changshuo, Xu Gu and Gao Yongzhi.
Ren and Gao's friendship lasted many decades and one of Gao's portraits by Ren is on show in the Shanghai Museum.
Ren did the painting when he was 38 years old, and Gao was 28.
In the painting, Gao sits on rocks with both hands around his knees.
Ren concentrated his strokes on Gao's eyes and raised head to emphasise his spirit and vitality.
The background scenery was drawn by another painter, Hu Gongshou.
Pine trees and branches show the energy of life, harmonious with the spirit Ren showed in drawing the human subject.
Ren focused on the person's nature, spirit and temperament, rather than a resemblance of the subject.
This is also a characteristic of traditional Chinese art.
Gao was also an influential painter at the time and had been the head of Shanghai Yuyuan Association of Calligraphy and Painting.
He often wrote poems for Ren's paintings, or painted together with him.
Ren portrayed Gao three times, indicating their deep and long-lasting friendship and this exhibit is deemed the best of the three.
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