Zheng Banqiao - Illustrated Explanations of Paintings by Famous Chinese Calligraphers and Painters

Author: Yang Yinglin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-02-01
Features: Shi Tao's paintings of orchids are not like orchids, for he has transformed them; Ban Qiao's paintings of orchids are extremely like orchids, yet he has not yet transformed them. He intends to learn from our likeness to imitate the unlikeness of the ancients. Haha, it is hard to put into words. — From the preface to Painting and Calligraphy Combined Scroll
My home has two thatched rooms facing south, with bamboo planted outside. In summer, when the new bamboo shoots first unfurl, their green shadows shade the people, and placing a small couch among them is very cool and comfortable. In autumn and winter, I take the frames of screen partitions, cut off the ends, and set them horizontally as window lattices, covering them with even, thin, and white paper. On sunny and warm days, frozen flies tapping the paper window make a tiny drumming sound. At that time, a scattered pattern of bamboo shadows—surely a natural painting! Whenever I paint bamboo, I have no master to follow, but I have learned much from the sunlight and moonlight on paper windows and white walls. — From the preface to New Bamboo Shoots Screen
Shi Tao, the monk, stayed in my Yangzhou for decades. He saw many of his orchid paintings, which were numerous and excellent. He learned half and left half, never fully imitating; not that he didn’t want to imitate fully, but he simply couldn’t, and in fact, it was unnecessary to do so. — From the preface to Painting Orchids
This book presents the brilliant theories on painting and calligraphy by Zheng Banqiao, a representative figure of the "Eight (Unconventional Masters) of Yangzhou," along with insightful analysis, providing an imaginative and theoretical interpretation of his artistic theories. This enables readers to gain a deeper understanding of his works and artistic achievements. The book is richly illustrated, with detailed discussions on his theories of painting and calligraphy, aesthetic ideas, and philosophy of life. It also includes brief introductions to several other key painters among the "Eight."