On The Strokes Language Of Velazquez’s Works

As a language of painting and the trail of artist’s mind, the brush of oil painting have unique aesthetic attributes. In this paper, our study of the language of painting’s brush starts from the works of Velazquez, who is the greatest master of realistic painting in17th-century Spain. Velazquez created a number of masterpieces which are soul-shocking and wisdom-enlightening, and initiated a new trend of direct writing on the canvas. He is appreciated to be merciful regardless of classes. Centered on the language of his works, supported by his brush, we study his works deeply to prepare the further discussion of theories of oil painting, which involves the consistency of brush writing in Chinese painting and Western painting. We will discuss the abstract visual vocabulary in the creation of realistic painting, its roles in expressing the physical space with color, and its unique aesthetic attributes. Starting from the comparison between linear and painterly styles, we conclude that the prerequisite of the brush of Velazquez’s works is painterly style. Starting from the association between direct painting techniques and the brush language, we make a detailed analysis of the painting language of Velazquez’s works. With that deep study, we could interpret the real life and the historical context behind his works, to get inspired and motivated to think about the status of oil painting in nowadays China.