Six Peng Painting Affairs (Cultural Encyclopedia Series)

Author: Zhu Wan Zhang
Publisher:
Publishing Date: April 1, 2004
Features: This book focuses on Su Liupeng, an outstanding figure painter from Guangdong during the Qing Dynasty. His fame has not spread far, and his works have not been widely circulated. Research on him only gained attention in recent decades. Despite being a painter who was once overlooked, he is incredibly captivating—like a pearl hidden beneath straw, shining brightly yet unknown. It can be imagined how the researchers must have felt when they discovered him. Chinese art history is not just a simple combination of a few famous painters; there are also many regional masters whose names have been lost to time.
Su Liupeng had very little written material and a limited number of works, with only about a hundred pieces of his paintings and calligraphy that can be verified. Mr. Zhu Wan Zhang, working at a museum, had the opportunity to view many of these works. The Story of Su Liupeng reconstructs his life based on surviving paintings, combining them with contemporary poetry and literature to uncover the mysteries of Su Liupeng’s character and experiences. This allows readers to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of his art.
What are the characteristics of Su Liupeng’s art that have drawn so many experts to him? Since the 1870s, numerous academic papers have been published, along with several large-scale art catalogs that present his art in a comprehensive manner. Most of his works depict the daily lives of ordinary people from the lower social strata, lively and vivid, earning him the title of "Father of Lingnan Comics." This was truly innovative during the Jiaqing and Daoguang years of the Qing Dynasty. Additionally, he had more traditional painting themes, and his techniques were impeccable—concise yet strong. He was also skilled in finger painting, which accounted for about one-tenth of his surviving works. Few Chinese painters in history have used their fingers to create art; the most famous was Gao Qipei from the early Qing Dynasty. Su Liupeng, too, made significant contributions to finger painting, achieving both precision and roughness. Unfortunately, he spent his entire life in Lingnan, so his influence was limited. Otherwise, with his artistry, he could have been ranked alongside the great masters of his time without any.
The Story of Su Liupeng differs from previous research works. This publication is both an in-depth study and a popularization. It not only tells us about Su Liupeng’s art but also provides a leisurely and detailed account: who he was, how he grew up, how he painted, where the themes of his paintings came from, and how his poetry and society reflected his mindset and environment. In other words, it explains where to start when viewing a painting and what to look for, meticulously unraveling the people, society, and thoughts related to Su Liupeng. As a result, the understanding gained is profound. At the same time, due to the author’s simple and engaging writing style, even those unfamiliar with art can read it with great interest, as if following a story. Through this process, they gain nourishment from history and painting, learning more than just about Su Liupeng himself. To readers, it is well-organized and enjoyable, providing a sense of comfort and the pleasure of tracing the origins.