Chinese Masterpieces of Figure Painting (Set of Three Volumes)

Author: Ji Jianghong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-09-01
Features: Character painting is the earliest of the three major genres of traditional Chinese painting (the other two being landscape painting and flower-and-bird painting). It is a symbol of the independence and maturation of Chinese painting art. Character painting encompasses diverse content and broad themes, including historical paintings, folk paintings, portraiture, and court ladies' paintings. In terms of techniques, it includes meticulous brushwork with color, freehand line drawing, and ink-wash painting. Masters from various dynasties, such as Gu Kaizhi, Yan Liben, Wu Daozi, Li Gonglin, Tang Yin, Qiu Ying, and Chen Hongshou, have left behind renowned masterpieces in this field, each excelling in their own way and standing the test of time. These works reflect the social conditions, customs, and human sentiments of their respective eras. Character painting is a genre of Chinese painting that directly reflects reality, making it not only possess unique artistic value but also unparalleled historical and sociological documentary value compared to other genres. To enable painting enthusiasts and art workers to systematically and comprehensively understand the artistic achievements of painters from different periods in their respective fields, the editor has invited experts in Chinese art history, art critics, and researchers of the three major painting genres to compile this series, 《》. 《》 is divided into three volumes, showcasing over three hundred exquisite works of Chinese character painting from eight periods—origin, the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, the Sui and Tang, the Five Dynasties, the Song, the Yuan, the Ming, and the Qing—through concise yet insightful introductions and critiques, interpreting the essence of the paintings from multiple perspectives. By carefully studying this book, readers can gain a more intuitive, comprehensive, and detailed understanding of the core qualities that have allowed these Chinese character paintings to be passed down through generations, relive the artists' creative states of mind, and transcend the limitations of time to discover the truth, goodness, and beauty contained within them. This book introduces the earliest genre of the three major painting genres of traditional Chinese painting—character painting. It is organized chronologically, covering the origin, the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, the Sui and Tang, the Five Dynasties, the Song, the Yuan, the Ming, and the Qing periods, interpreting the artistic essence of character painting from multiple angles. The character paintings collected in this book are diverse in content and theme, including historical paintings, folk paintings, portraiture, and court ladies' paintings; in terms of techniques, they cover meticulous brushwork with color, freehand line drawing, and ink-wash painting. Masterpieces from various dynasties, such as Gu Kaizhi, Yan Liben, Wu Daozi, Li Gonglin, Tang Yin, and Qiu Ying, are gathered here, each excelling in their own way and standing the test of time. These works reflect the social conditions, customs, and human sentiments of their respective eras, possessing unique artistic value, as well as irreplaceable historical and collection value beyond other genres.