A Study On Zhou Changgu’s Creative Practice In Chinese Figure Painting

In the early 20 th century, under the impact of the trend of thought evoked by the introduction of western learning to the east, Kang Youwei, Cai Yuanpei, Chen Duxiu, Lu Xun et al.voluntarily promoted the movement aimed at improving Chinese painting based on traditional western painting. Xu Beihong, Lin Fengmian, Liu Haisu and other art educators, starting from the perspective of art education, took an active part in and propelled the creative practice in modern Chinese figure painting. After half-a-century-long development, under the influence of guiding principles for literature and art of New China in the 1950 s and the 60 s, the form and system of modern Chinese figure painting gradually came into being. During the process, Zhe School Figure Painting and Xu Jiang System were the big push behind the development of modern Chinese figure painting.Zhou Changgu, one of the big names in the academic society of Zhe School Figure Painting,created the calligraphy style Yin Shu that takes on unique calligraphic implication for aesthetics.Zhou further combined the calligraphy style of Yin Shu with Dian Du Bi Fa(Dian Du Technique)of traditional bird-and-flower painting, forming Kuan Bi Dian Du Fa(Wide Brushwork Dian Du Technique), a major artistic creation of Zhou’s. Based on the technique, Zhou Changgu formed his own unique style – a distinct Zhou’s form of picture.Zhou Changgu’s oeuvre d’art is known for its display of bright and rich colors. The development of his art went through three major stages. The years between 1953 and 1964 chiefly featured exquisite beauty and unsophisticated elegance. Beginning with Ta Bian Qing Shan(All around the Green Hill), 1964, which applied the mixed use of both Chinese and western pigment,Zhou’s works became resplendent and rich in hue. This stage of art creation lasted until the early80 s when he transformed to a simple and elegant artistic style where blending tones of light ink and pink were presented. Zhou was adept in the method of mixing color and ink to portray the harmonious delight of life presented by human figures and scenery portrayed in painting and exploring the poetic nature in real-life contexts.Zhou Changgu had created a great number of small-scale modern figure paintings throughout his lifetime. His distinctive characteristics in terms of painting style undoubtedly exerted significant influence over the establishment of the system of modern Chinese small-scale figure painting.Zhou’s exploration in fields such as pattern transformation between sketching methods and artistic creation and the complementation of Chinese and western color use obtained achievements.His tremendous contribution to the establishment of the system of modern Chinese figure painting guaranteed him a place in the history of fine arts of New China.