Wu Youruo's White Description Painting Collection of a Hundred Flowers

Author: Wu Youru Illustrates
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-04-01
Features: The illustrations in this book are selected from the painting albums of "Feiyinge Huazhu" (Painting Albums of Flying Shadow Pavilion), which was established by Wu Youru in the 19th year of the Guangxu reign (1893). From these works, we can see Wu Youru's exceptional traditional painting skills. Each line drawing, whether in terms of the interweaving and avoidance of lines, the sparse and dense arrangement of black and white, the in composition, or the contrast between vast openness and tight density, triumphs in novelty and boldness. They also carry some "Haihai" (Sea School) flavor, with an ethereal and refined style. For beginners learning traditional painting composition and the principles of black and white contrast, mastering the rhythm and melody of bold and subtle lines, as well as expansive and tight compositions, is highly beneficial.
Wu Youru (c. 1840–1893), named Jiayou, was from Yuanhe, Jiangsu (now Wuxian). His family was poor in his youth, but he began learning painting under the influence of a neighbor who was a painter. He excelled in both meticulous and freehand painting, as well as in figures, beauties, flowers and birds, grasshoppers, landscapes, and architectural drawings. Later, he settled in Shanghai and became the primary contributor to "Dianshi Zhai Huazhao" (Point Stone Studio Illustrated News). During this period in Shanghai, the Qing Dynasty was declining after the Opium Wars, and the gunboat diplomacy of imperialist powers forced China to open its doors. While carving up China, they also introduced Western technology and various ideologies. Western lithography technology emerged in Macau, and in the 10th year of the Guangxu reign (1884), Shanghai established Dianshi Zhai, which began mass-producing lithographic publications, including famous works such as "Dianshi Zhai Huazhao," "Shishi Bao Huazhao" (Current Affairs Illustrated News), and "Huazhao Bao" (Illustrated Times). These publications mostly reflected current news and social customs.
Following "Dianshi Zhai Huazhao," which described current events and social realities, such as the Sino-French War and the First Sino-Japanese War, with certain progressive significance, Wu Youru founded another illustrated news magazine, "Feiyinge Huazhu," three years later in the 19th year of the Guangxu reign (1893). Its content included beauties, scenic spots, flowers, and birds. Essentially, it was a painting album. The "Wu Youru Hundred Flowers Line Drawing Album" and "Wu Youru Hundred Birds Line Drawing Album" we publish this time are selected from this period's albums. From these two albums, we can see Wu Youru's exceptional traditional painting skills. Each line drawing, whether in terms of the interweaving and avoidance of lines, the sparse and dense arrangement of black and white, the in composition, or the contrast between vast openness and tight density, triumphs in novelty and boldness. They also carry some "Haihai" (Sea School) flavor, with an ethereal and refined style. Although these albums are line drawing drafts, when we review them today and savor them carefully, they still evoke a strong artistic impact. They are highly beneficial for beginners learning traditional painting composition, the principles of black and white contrast, and mastering the rhythm and melody of bold and subtle lines, as well as expansive and tight compositions.