Classical Paintings Library of Famous Chinese Painters. Modern Part. Fu Baoshi

Author: Jia Dejiang, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-08-01
Features: Fu Baoshi (1904–1965), originally named Ruilin, styled Baohaozhai Zhuren, was born in Xinyu County, Jiangxi Province. He served as the Director of the Jiangsu National Painting Institute, Chairman of the Jiangsu Branch of the China Artists Association, and Vice President of the China Artists Association. Fu Baoshi's historical figure paintings, such as Qu Yuan, Du Fu, Tao Yuanming, Li Bai, Wang Xizhi, and the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove, all depict figures with extraordinary spirits and noble characters in history. Their grief, melancholy, dissatisfaction with reality, and unrestrained elegance, as well as the indescribable sorrow and heaviness in their hearts, are all deeply resonated with the artist. It feels as if the focus is not on painting the figures, but on capturing the artist's inner state, expressing the artist's understanding and empathy for their life experiences; it feels as if the artist is not painting the ancients, but painting himself. Fu Baoshi inherited the emphasis on lines in literati painting, believing that rich colors could not coexist with dominant, bold lines. However, his use of color was vastly different from the conventional and impoverished brushwork of tradition. The colors complement the artistic spirit of the brushwork, setting the tone of the work. His use of multiple colors often brought fresh perspectives. By adding ink to the colors, using large-scale washes, and creating a vast, misty, and heavy atmosphere, he developed a unique style.