Classical Paintings Library of Famous Chinese Painters. Modern Part. Zhang Daqian

Author: Jia Dejiang, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-08-01
Features:
Zhang Daqian (1899-1983), originally named Zhengquan, later changed his name to Yuan, was also known as Ji, and later as Jia Yuan. He used the name Daqian and the title Daqian Jushi, often going by his name. His studio was named Fengdeng Tang. He was from Neijiang, Sichuan. He was skilled in Chinese painting. In his youth, he studied painting in Japan with his brother. After returning to China, he learned poetry, calligraphy, and painting from Li Ruiqing and Zeng Xi. In 1936, he was appointed as a professor of the Fine Arts Department of Nanjing Central University. In his later years, he moved to Taipei. His creative work covered a wide range, excelling in landscapes, flowers and birds, and figures. His landscape painting was influenced by Shitao, drawing from various sources; his flower-and-bird paintings were inspired by Chen Laolin, Ba Da, Qingteng, and the Yangzhou Eight, forming his own style; his figure painting learned from Tang Yin and Zhao Mengfu, capturing their essence. In the 1930s, he was renowned alongside Qi Baishi, earning the reputation of "Zhang from the South and Qi from the North." He traveled to Dunhuang to copy murals, which greatly transformed his artistic style. He was adept at using heavy ink and bright colors, blending ink and color. His works have been exhibited in major domestic and international exhibitions and have been collected by museums and galleries around the world. In 1957, the World Art Association in New York, USA, honored him as a contemporary great painter and awarded him a gold medal. Starting from Shitao of the modern era, Daqian traced his artistic lineage upward, passing through the Ming, Yuan, Song, and Tang dynasties, becoming increasingly distant yet increasingly refined. His artistic achievements were gained through relentless pursuit and dedication. There are two spirits worth learning from: one is learning from the past to innovate, and the other is learning from life.