Courtesy Name: Xuanzai
Revival of Figure painting since Song times:
With the arrival of western-styled art, artists in this era explored more natural elements in their works. Diving into more individualistic notions of thinking. Questioning the interpretation of contemporary art. Another artist who held this philosophy was Xu Wei.
The shift toward a more saturated choice of colour and stepping away from the structure forms of scholar-artist pieces.
A deliver of breaking away from traditional art practices and taking it as a practice of creativity
Born in 1555 Huating (now Shanghai) passed in 1636.
Dong Qichang was brought up with a scholarly background, undergoing imperial service exams. He rose to the position of Ministry of Rites.
As a painter, he favoured the idea of expressionistic painting over realism. He took elements of the Yuanti literati style of painting yet imbued his own set of structures and forms.
He was known as one of the most notable art theorists in his time. He developed the notion that Chinese paintings could be categorised into two styles ‘Northern’ and ‘Southern’. The northern style in which painted with fine lines and colours while the southern style approaches a more calligraphic brush stroke appearance.
Fishing Boat on an Autumn River (Hanging scroll, ink and colour on silk)
Despite the title, the fishing boat is actually the smallest element in the painting. It can be seen behind the rock in the middle of the painting. The vastness of the painting is created with the space and no defining line between the sky and the river. The autumn trees are seen growing on the rock in the foreground of the painting
The colours and shades of ink are very light and mild. Creating this cold and calm look that evokes this idea of autumn
Dong Qichang uses this blue colour to show the different light and dark values which adds a cold and duller tone to the paintings.
I feel that the reason that the fishing boat is so small in the painting also showcases this idea of the vastness and greatness of the world. This comparison of the world to us. The emptiness of the cold lake and one single flowing boat. I feel this emptiness he has created evokes a sort of unreal feeling of questioning and sadness.
An emotional and expressive painting of Dong Qichang.
Comments