Shen Zhou

Author: (Ming) Shen Zhou (painter)/Wu Gan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-07-01
Features: The painter, drawing upon the spiritual essence of heaven and earth, unites with the wondrous imagination of the human heart. Standing between heaven and earth, the painter is surrounded by all phenomena. With a fusion of thought and interest, inspiration strikes suddenly, and with a bold stroke, the artist pursues what they see, hear, and feel. A sudden exclamation, a myriad of forms, culminates in a masterpiece. Our nation's painting has deep roots, dating back to Gu Kaizhi of the Jin Dynasty. For over a thousand years, countless schools have emerged, with masters appearing in every generation. From the north to the south, talented craftsmen have emerged, each with distinct styles, forming their own unique traditions. The vast Yangtze River and the majestic Kunlun Mountains are not enough to describe their lofty heights. Later generations, wishing to learn their details and appreciate their wonders, find it difficult. I was born unable to paint, but by observing the works of ancient and modern masters, along with the inevitable changes of their time, I came to understand that learning the rules leads to understanding the lack of rules. The ancients said, "This art can fully express one's aspirations—so it is?" Reading through the masterpieces of past generations, I realize that their methods are like mirage and water, seemingly present yet elusive; while their lack of rules is like the boundless blue sky and clear water, vast and endless. Our society gathers the works of ancient and modern masters, selecting the finest from each era, detailing their lives, artistic theories, technical characteristics, and lineage. This allows readers to see a glimpse and grasp the whole, understand one painter and grasp an era's art, and through reading the collections of dozens of famous painters, gain an overview of China's millennia-old painting civilization. Due to the passage of time and frequent wars, countless famous paintings have been lost or damaged. There are masters whose paintings no longer exist, paintings that survive but are few and far between, and painters who were famous but whose lives and deeds are not recorded. As a result, few illustrations and texts remain, and introductions cannot be complete. Thus, we gather them in small collections, better than having nothing at all. In the past, Ouyang Xun compiled Yiwen Lüji and said, "I wish to make every family rich in rare pearls and every person possess jade brocade, so that the elders can compile collections, each expressing their own views." This collection embodies that spirit. The Complete Collection of Famous Chinese Painters is a series of selected works by ancient and modern Chinese masters, from Gu Kaizhi of the Jin Dynasty to Guan Shanyue, a contemporary painter who has passed away. Each book reflects the painter's life, artistic characteristics, technical features, and artistic theories, allowing readers to see a glimpse. This book is one of the Complete Collection of Famous Chinese Painters—Shen Zhou.