First Influence Art Treasury -- Ink Symphony (Xu Wei)

Author: Editorial Committee of "The Art Treasury of First Influence"
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-01-01
Features: Xu Wei (1521-1593), born into an official 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-bird 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-bird 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 are bold, unrestrained, and full of vitality; and Ink Grape, which is spontaneous and unrestrained. The main artistic characteristics of Xu Wei's flower-and-bird paintings are reflected in the literary essence of the content and the large-scale freehand ink technique in the form. The literary essence is particularly evident in the subjectivity and individuality of the works. He excelled at painting the four noble plants, lotus flowers, and banana leaves, which were familiar and beloved by literati. He especially liked depicting the poses of flowers and trees in harsh winds and heavy rains to symbolize 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 vitality of the flowers but instead deliberately altered their essence from a subjective perspective, using them as a metaphor to express his unfulfilled talent. His overflowing talent, ever-changing artistic conception, lofty and unconventional sentiment, and the integration of poetry, calligraphy, and painting are also the qualities of his literary paintings. Xu Wei's freehand ink technique not only elevated the skill to a new height but also reinforced the literary essence of the paintings. The figures in his works "seek the spirit rather than the form," conveying the essence of the objects with just 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 "" (untrammeled style) and the "，" (spontaneous brushwork, not seeking resemblance) that literati painting advocates.
This art book features selected masterpieces of Xu Wei, each accompanied by information such as the work's title, commentary, date, material, dimensions, technique, collector, and influence index, making it highly valuable. The book has a novel design and exquisite text. The introductory section "Approaching 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 creation of this book, support was received from many experts and connoisseurs, and their gratitude is expressed here.