Chinese painting of fish and insects

Author: Mei Ruo (Illustrator)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2007-01-01
Features: Fish and insects fall under the category of flower-and-bird painting in Chinese art and are also subjects favored by many Chinese painters. Because they are closely related to people's lives and bring endless joy to them, numerous masters of fish-and-insect painting have emerged throughout history. However, most of them were merely decorative elements in flower-and-bird paintings, with few artists dedicating their work solely to fish and insects. Fish and insects are considered small works due to their size. The so-called "minor skill of carving insects" occupies a minimal place in large-scale works, making them unsuitable as the main theme and often appearing in the form of small pieces. Today's art scene emphasizes visual impact, and even fewer artists specialize in fish and insects. However, Chinese culture does not always favor the grand; often, the small reveals the profound. Just as a falling leaf can signify the arrival of autumn, small works also possess depth. Despite the notion that fish and insects are minor subjects, no master painter in history has ever lightly abandoned this field.
The vibrant and diverse butterflies, lingering among flowers, express tenderness through their dance-like movements, radiating brilliance. The high-climbing cicadas, sipping dew and enjoying the wind, exude arrogance. The slender dragonflies, flying gracefully, and the grasshoppers, the singing poets of the meadows, the bees willing to act as matchmakers for flowers, the mantises with their arched necks, large bellies, and skillful climbing and speed, the grasshoppers that sing melodiously day and night, the emerald-colored weavers, the myriad behaviors of moths, and the long-horned, powerful longhorn beetles, among others, all inspire artists with distinctive creativity, wisdom, and a sense of childlike innocence, as well as the sudden spark of intellectual brilliance.
The masterpieces of fish-and-insect painting by masters such as Qi Baishi, Pan Junning, Zhang Dazhuang, and Wang Xuetao shine as brightly as their renowned names, leaving a lasting legacy. Traditionally, the artistic status of album leaves and long scrolls far surpasses that of centerpieces and large hanging scrolls, and this principle applies to fish-and-insect painting as well. In the category of flower-and-bird painting, fish and insects are grouped together, along with crabs, shrimp, turtles, tortoises, snails, river clams, frogs, and lizards. Thus, the scope of fish-and-insect subjects is very broad.
Fish and insects in Chinese painting are a unique gem in the realm of art. Only Chinese painting can depict the veins of wings, the fine antennae, the intricate patterns on wings, and the hooked teeth on insect legs with such clarity, making them both lively and lifelike, leaving viewers in awe. Combining expressive flowers and fruits with one or two meticulously crafted, delicate grasshoppers, or pairing rustic or exquisite insect accessories with crickets or winter silkworms, creates a harmonious and intriguing artistic atmosphere, enhancing each other perfectly.