Complete Collection of Chinese Painting (2): Five Dynasties, Song, Liao, and Jin - Volume 1

Author: Ancient Chinese Painting and Calligraphy Appraisal Group
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1999-06-01
Features: Five years of war did not cause the decline of painting art. Due to the recruitment and preferential treatment of painters by several regional ruling regimes, a solid foundation was laid for the further prosperity of painting under the Song Dynasty, leading to a succession of renowned masters during the Northern and Southern Song periods. In terms of overall development, figure painting surpassed the peak of the Tang Dynasty, shifting from grand and powerful expressions to delicate, refined, and lyrical styles. Landscape and flower-and-bird paintings, on the other hand, matured and diversified in style. Meanwhile, several ethnic minority ruling regimes in the surrounding areas, such as the Liao, Jin, and Western Xia, were deeply influenced by the artistic traditions of the Central Plains, yet each retained its own unique lifestyle and regional characteristics. Although the painting of this period was primarily dominated by the court-style art that served the imperial court, the participation of literati and scholars in painting gradually became a trend, opening up broad avenues for the later flourishing of literati painting. The painting of the Northern and Southern Song and Liao-Jin periods undoubtedly stands as a very brilliant chapter in the history of ancient Chinese painting. This volume includes seventy-three works from this period, featuring masterpieces by artists such as Guan Tong, Huang Quan, Zhou Wenju, Gu Hongzhong, Dong Yuan, Ju Ran, Li Cheng, Fan Kuan, Guo Xi, Wang Shen, Li Gonglin, Zhao Ji, Wang Ximeng, and Zhang Zeduan, particularly showcasing the splendid light of this era.