Rongbaozhai Painting Spectrum 143 · Painted by Li Xiongcai, Landscape Part

Author: Li Xiongcai
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-03-10
Features: Li Xiongcai was from Zhaoqing, Guangdong. He became a disciple of Gao Jianfu in 1926. In terms of painting, he shared the same lineage with Gao Jianfu. Before joining Gao Jianfu's school, he had already studied painting under Chen Jian, a disciple of Ju Lin, and had received training in the Ju style. Gao Jianfu's mentorship of Li Xiongcai extended beyond the teachings at Chunshi Art Institute. In 1932, he even funded Li Xiongcai to study in Japan for four years.
In landscape painting, Li Xiongcai was influenced less by Gao Jianfu. The "misty style" he adopted in Japan continued after his return. Li Xiongcai successfully blended traditional techniques with Japanese painting methods. His new style combined both brushwork and wash techniques, while also capturing the depth of scenes and the layers of air. Under the principle of the Lingnan School of Painting, which advocates a synthesis of Chinese and foreign art, this represented a new direction. However, Li Xiongcai did not pursue this path in his later career. He preferred strong brushwork and strove to create various artistic effects through the versatility of his brushwork. In his painting "Jiangxi Xing Huaihe Pan," Li Xiongcai had already developed a mature, personal brushwork language, such as his control over ink and water. His brushwork was vigorous and expressive.
In landscape painting, Li Xiongcai primarily focused on sketches, which gave his works a sense of "reality." Taking "Mountain Village in Evening Snow" as an example, he used ink and ochre to convey the atmosphere of a cold winter day. Even when depicting scenes that were not desolate, viewers could still sense warmth amidst the winter chill, reflecting the artist's personality in his work. Li Xiongcai emphasized expressing what he saw through brushwork, giving his works a strong sense of "brushwork and ink." His efforts in landscape painting led to the creation of his "Li Family Landscape." The term "Li Family Landscape" refers to Li Xiongcai's style in landscape painting. In fact, "Li Family" carries a broader meaning as well. In an article discussing his disciples, the author used "Li Family disciples" to describe his followers. "Li Family Landscape" refers to Li Xiongcai's landscape style, while "Li Family disciples" refers to those who followed his style. Li Xiongcai not only distinguished his own painting style from the Lingnan School of Painting but also took his disciples out of it as well. Regarding the style of "Li Family Landscape," it can be understood through the following description: "The highly praised 'Li Family Landscape' typically refers to Master Li Xiongcai's elegant and refined artistic conception, especially his beauty in form and color, particularly in his verdant and blue-green landscape paintings."
It turns out that "Li Family Landscape" not only refers to Li Xiongcai's landscape style in general but also has a specific meaning—referring to the verdant and blue-green landscape paintings he created. In his later years, Li Xiongcai made new breakthroughs in "Li Family Landscape," successfully blending thick, vibrant blue-green colors with bold, deep ink. "Light Boat Has Passed Through Myriad Mountains" was created when he was 84 years old. In the painting, the strong, precise lines of his earlier works were replaced by wet, textured brushwork. Li Xiongcai advocated that "whether in heavy or light colors, ink must always be the primary element," a principle that is evident in this work. He built upon ink sketches, applying mixed stone blue and stone green, showing his evolution in the use of blue-green colors. While depicting the scenery, he also conveyed a subtle glow, creating a misty and ethereal atmosphere. Li Xiongcai's efforts elevated landscape painting beyond merely expressing social contexts, pushing for innovation in art. Through his dedication to landscape painting, Li Xiongcai accumulated sufficient experience to write his later work, "Li Xiongcai's Landscape Painting Manual."