Analysis On Shitao’s Spirit Wofa In His Artworks Of Different Periods

Shi Tao, the most creative and outstanding painter during Ming and Qing Dynasties, made a unique contribution to the Chinese painting and became a great painter. With his free and changeable style, Shi Tao swept away the antique style of that time. His innovation on the painting techniques is advocated by the people today and the study of his writings can be described as overwhelming. The author has no intention or the ability to see the real appearance of the master. But the author can discuss about Shi Tao’s painting thought Wofa which isn’t committed to any traditional spirit from the perspective of painting history. The spiritual values and revelation of artistic creation laws in his artistic ideas and the practice of painting have had an important impact on the later generations and made important contributions to the evolution of modern Chinese painting, and had a universal significance to the creation and development of various arts.At the beginning of this paper, the author elaborates the evolution of the spirit of Wofa, including dividing Shi Tao’s artistic career into three periods. And then seek the causes of Wofa formation through three aspects which are the background of the times, the painting environment and personal factors. In the third chapter, the author analyzes the embodiment of the spirit of Wofa in Shi Tao’s works in different periods through a large number of Shi Tao’s works in different periods, and concludes that Shi Tao’s changes in his ideas at different times result in the changes of his works; during the creation and development, he provoked a deeper reflection and conceptual breakthrough through the practice of painting. At last, it expounds the cultural significance of Shi Tao’s spirit Wofa from the two aspects which are the influence of Wofa on painting history and the extension of art.