Selected Works of Hu Peiheng

Author: Hu Peiheng (Illustrator)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: Hu Peiheng (1892–1962) was a native of Zhuozhou, Hebei. A Mongol, he was known as Xi Que by name and Peiheng by courtesy name, and styled as Leng’an. In 1919, he was appointed as a tutor for the Painting Method Research Society at Peking University and served as the editor-in-chief of Journal of Painting. Later, he became a member of the ( is a term that may refer to a position or role, but the exact translation depends on context; here, it is retained as is) of the Chinese Painting Research Society and the Hu She Painting Society, and participated in editing Hu She Monthly. He taught at North China University, Beijing Normal University, and Beiping Art College. He was also a painter and administrative committee member of the Beijing Chinese Painting Institute, as well as a member of the editorial board of Chinese Painting. He was a member of the Chinese Artists Association. His works include Introduction to Landscape Painting, Discerning the Techniques of Wang Shigu’s Painting, How I Paint Landscape Paintings, Qibaishi’s Painting Techniques and Appreciation (co-authored with Hu Luo), Research on Landscape Painting Techniques, Collected Works of Hu Peiheng (Volumes 1–5), Guilin Sketches, and others. In 1987, the Beijing Art Institute and other organizations held an exhibition of Hu Peiheng’s posthumous works at Zhongshan Park. Hu Peiheng was one of the key figures in the Northern painting circles of the early 20th century, particularly in the Hu She and other painting organizations, and an important landscape painter. He made significant contributions in three areas: landscape painting creation, theoretical research on painting techniques, and art education. Hu Peiheng began his artistic training by copying the works of masters from the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. He also studied Western painting techniques, including sketching, oil painting, and watercolor painting, maintaining an open-minded approach to artistic development. In his writings, he advocated for "using ancient methods to paint from life, and then creating from life" and emphasized that "learning from the ancients and creative expression must complement each other." He believed in learning from both the past and nature. In 1956, he traveled to Hunan, Guizhou, and Guangxi to sketch and paint, broadening his horizons and transforming his artistic style. His landscape paintings combine heavy colors and ink, with vibrant hues and a robust, majestic style, characterized by grandeur and a distinct sense of the era. Qi Baishi once praised his works, saying, "His layers are distinct, his brushwork is meticulous, inspiring deep thoughts. In the future, if thousands of painters gather in the garden of art, may they never forget this old master."