Cui Junpei The Red Chamber Dream Characters Album

Author: Cui Junpei (Illustrator)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-10-01
Features: Cui Junpei is a refined and literary figure with an open and free spirit. He has been deeply devoted to painting for nearly forty years. His works are expressive and artistic, achieving a realm of perfection that is not accomplished overnight. When painting characters, they sometimes resemble advancing monks with enlightened Buddhist and Zen qualities; at other times, they appear as leisurely townspeople singing in the suburbs; and still, they are graceful and elegant ladies in fine attire. Everything that overflows onto the silk and paper is free of worldly vulgarity, yet rich in charm and elegance. His previous works have been published as the "Cui Junpei Painting Collection" and the special volume "Illustrated Characters from Romance of the Three Kingdoms." Cui Junpei is also particularly fond of painting horses. At a glance, they may exude the elegance of flowing mane and wind-swept fur, or appear as if galloping through clouds and seas, with silver hooves kicking up mist. His peers are often left in awe. Recently, Cui Junpei paid a visit, bringing with him sixty frames of his paintings depicting characters from the Dream of the Red Chamber. He asked me to write a few words about them.
As the ancients said, "A person's demeanor is like a flower's beauty, the moon's halo, a mountain's ridge, or a river's waves—all manifestations of their nature." Cui Junpei's paintings of Red Chamber characters capture this essence: the unrestrainedness of Wang Xifeng, the fragility of Daiyu, the boldness of Xiangyun, the acidity of Jia Yucun, the authority of Wang Xifeng, the wit of Tanchun, and the joyfulness of Grandmother Jia. Each character's personality is conveyed through their demeanor, and their demeanor reveals their true nature.
The ancients once remarked on painting, saying, "Brush and ink are inherently devoid of emotion, and one must not portray them as such. The painter captures emotion, and the viewer must not be unmoved by it." Through meticulous effort and refinement, Cui Junpei has perfectly captured the essence and form of each character, making them appear lifelike.
He is now preparing to compile his paintings of Red Chamber characters for publication, which is truly a treasure for the art world and will undoubtedly gain acclaim in the artistic community. With admiration and appreciation, I hasten to express a few words—though I dare not call them an introduction.