Pen takes the art of the heavens, Zhong Shenxiu

Author: Editorial Committee of "The Art Treasury of First Influence"
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-01-01
Features:
Vugu (1823-1896), originally named Zhu Huairen, changed his name to "Vugu" after becoming a monk. He excelled in painting flowers, birds, figures, and landscapes, particularly birds and flowers, and was a renowned master of birds-and-flowers painting during the Qing Dynasty. His artworks are masterfully executed, with a cool and refined style, ethereal conception, and a unique approach. Vugu left behind many masterpieces. For instance, in "Plum Blossoms and Cranes," the brushwork is vigorous and dynamic, conveying a noble and pure artistic conception. The plum blossoms and cranes in the painting are full of vitality. In "Three Goldfish among Wisteria," the goldfish he depicted possess strong individuality: square heads, square eyes, and square bodies, conveying the artist's rebellious spirit and an inner sense of vigor.
Vugu's birds-and-flowers paintings are distinctive, innovative, cool and refined, ethereal, and transformative, each with its own unique charm. His works differ from conventional pieces in brushwork, perspective, form, composition, and color. The white cranes in his paintings often have crimson crowns and white feathers, striking yet harmonious, offering a luxurious yet elegant aesthetic. His goldfish are exaggerated and deformed, completely unconstrained by the true shapes of fish, creating a sense of novelty. In his later years, he painted squirrels, using dry brush and light ink to delicately outline their backs and tails, with touches of dark ink and light brown tones to add texture, resulting in lifelike and fluffy depictions. His style is both nimble and playful, with a touch of rustic charm.
This art album features a selection of Vugu's masterpieces, each accompanied by information such as the title, commentary, creation date, material, dimensions, artist, collector, and influence index, making it highly valuable. The album is beautifully designed and bound, with an introductory section titled "Approaching Chinese Painting" that provides readers with knowledge about Chinese painting in terms of techniques, appreciation, and collection, as well as guidance on using the book.