Ink's Final Serenade

Author: Editorial Board of "The Art Treasury of First Influence"
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-01-01
Features: Xu Wei (1521-1593), born into a gentry family, lost his father at the age of one hundred days and his mother in childhood. He was imprisoned, attempted suicide, and suffered from mental instability throughout his life, like a drifting lotus leaf. Xu Wei's flower-and-plant paintings represent the culmination of pre-Qing Dynasty ink and wash and freehand painting techniques. He was a master who pushed the art of large-scale freehand ink and wash flower-and-plant paintings to its peak. He founded the "Qingteng Painting School," which had a profound influence on later generations. His paintings are eccentric and expressive, with dynamic brushwork that balances strength and gentleness. Xu Wei's surviving works are few but mostly masterpieces, such as Miscellaneous Flowers, which is bold, unrestrained, and full of vitality; and Ink Grape, which is spontaneous and unrestrained.
The main artistic features of Xu Wei's flower-and-plant paintings are reflected in the content of literati painting and the form of large-scale freehand ink and wash techniques. The essence of literati painting is highlighted in the subjectivity and individuality of the works. He excelled at painting the four noble plants, lotus flowers, and banana trees, which were familiar and beloved by literati. He particularly liked depicting the poses of flowers and trees in harsh winds and heavy rains, symbolizing his own life's suffering. Peonies, considered precious flowers with vibrant colors, were often painted in ink by Xu Wei. He did not focus on depicting the natural charm of the flowers but instead deliberately altered their essence from a subjective perspective, using them as a means to express his unfulfilled talent. His overflowing talent, unpredictable artistic conception, lofty and unconventional sentiment, and the integration of poetry, calligraphy, and painting are also distinctive traits of his literati painting. Xu Wei's freehand ink technique not only elevated the skill to a new level but also reinforced the characteristics of literati painting. The figures he painted "seek the spirit rather than the form," conveying the essence of objects with a few strokes and the unrestrained splashing of ink, achieving a natural and harmonious effect. He transformed the freehand technique into large-scale freehand painting, truly reaching the "" (sublime style) and the "，" (spontaneous brushwork, disregarding form) that literati painting advocates.
This art book selects Xu Wei's surviving paintings, each accompanied by information such as the title, appreciation, date, material, dimensions, technique, collector, and influence index, making it invaluable. The book features an innovative design and exquisite text. The introductory section "Getting Closer to Chinese Painting" provides readers with knowledge about the painting, appreciation, and collection of Chinese painting, as well as how to use this book. During the compilation of this book, support was received from many experts and connoisseurs. Gratitude is expressed to them here.