Research On Zhao Mengfu’s Hermit Portrait

As an important representative of the cultural circle of the Wu Xing region,Zhao Mengfu not only had great achievements in landscape painting,but also in figure painting with hermit themes.In this article,we mainly focus on five dimensions of Zhao Mengfu’s paintings of figures with hermit themes: character identification,characterization,art language,creative thought,and contemporary value.In the first part,the author mainly examines the identity of the hermits in Zhao Mengfu’s works on hermit themes.Based on relevant documents,the personal experiences of the hermits are analyzed,and the commonalities of political careers between the hermits of past generations and Zao Mengfu himself are pointed out.In the second part,regarding the image of hermits portrayed by Zhao Mengfu,the author analyzes them mainly from the perspective of the characters’ clothing and demeanor as the main entry point,and explores the causes of the similarities and differences between the images of hermits in the documents and those portrayed in Zhao Mengfu’s paintings by comparing the similarities and differences between them.In the light of Zhao Mengfu’s personal experiences,the differences between the images of hermits are analyzed,which are precisely the mapping of his despondency caused by his tortuous career path.In the third part,the author analyzes the art language in Zhao Mengfu’s paintings of figures with hermit themes.In terms of figure modeling,Zhao Mengfu innovated on the basis of Gu Kaizhi’s "writing God with form" and adopted the approach of "writing God with scenery",using scenery to accentuate the image of the hermit.In terms of color,Zhao Mengfu adopts a dichotomous approach of coloring and white painting,laterally highlighting Zhao Mengfu’s complex and contradictory psychological characteristics.In terms of composition,Zhao Mengfu adopts a smooth and balanced composition,suggesting that Zhao Mengfu tried to find a psychological balance between entering the "service" and returning to the "hermitage".In terms of perspective,Zhao Mengfu adopts a multifaceted and comprehensive approach in an attempt to find a free psychological space.In terms of proportion,Zhao Mengfu adopted the approach of "looking at the big with the small".The image of the hermit in Zhao Mengfu’s painting is at the center of his vision,blending with the surrounding environment to build an ideal spiritual home.In the fourth part,from the viewpoint of creative thinking,Zhao Mengfu on the one hand "sought outside the image" and tried to find his own emotional support from hermits in the past.On the other hand,in the midst of the general environment of the Yuan Dynasty,Zhao Mengfu was ultimately forced to "return to reality" because of his limited personal power.In the fifth part,the author mainly explores the contemporary value of Zhao Mengfu’s works on hermits.From the perspective of historical and ethnographic values,Zhao Mengfu showed responsibility and commitment,as well as the breadth of mind and temperament of national righteousness.As a leading figure of the Wu Xing cultural circle,Zhao Mengfu had significant influence.His choice to enter the "service" world had,to a certain extent,a positive effect of maintaining stability.In terms of aesthetic value,Zhao Mengfu’s works on the subject of hermits still have important aesthetic value in today’s society,and the beauty of sparseness and simplicity,ethereal beauty and purity embodied in his works are worthy of our in-depth study and exploration.