Pen of Heavenly Skill, Zhong Shenxiu - Xugu

Author: Compiled by the Editorial Committee of "The Art Treasury of First Influence"
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-01-01
Features: The bird-and-flower paintings of Xu Gu have a distinctive personality, being novel, cool, ethereal, and deformed, with unique charm and originality. Xu Gu's bird-and-flower paintings differ from general works in brushwork, vision, form, composition, and color. The white cranes in his paintings are often red-crowned and white-feathered, strikingly vibrant yet harmonious, conveying a luxurious yet refined aesthetic. His goldfish are exaggerated and deformed, completely unconstrained by the true shape of fish, giving a sense of novelty. In his later years, he painted squirrels, using dry brush and light ink to finely outline and lightly scumble the backs and tails, with touches of dark ink and light brown color, creating a highly lifelike and velvety texture. His style is nimble yet carries a touch of childlike simplicity. This art album selects the masterpieces of Xu Gu, with each piece accompanied by information such as the title, commentary, creation date, material, dimensions, artist, collector, and influence index, making it invaluable. The album features an innovative design, exquisite text, and an introductory section titled "Getting Closer to Chinese Painting," which provides readers with knowledge about Chinese painting in terms of painting, appreciation, and collection, as well as guidance on using the book.