Wu Changshuo's Artistic Proposition

Wu Changshuo has been the master worldwide complimented for his "fourexcellencies" of poetry,calligraphy,painting and seal carving.Besides theseexcellencies,his artistic claim of distinct personality has been profoundly influential tohis later generations.Therefore,it is of particular significance for contemporarytheoretical study and creation of Chinese paintings to investigate,sort out and study Wuvarious artistic practice and claims.This dissertation employs methods of documentanalysis and comparative study among others in the course of statement and reasoningStarting from his life-time experience,this dissertation sorts out the three phases ofWu's life,and through analyses into specific works sums up the characteristics of andaccomplishments in his artistic practice of literature,calligraphy,painting and sealcarving.In regard with the issues of succession and innovation,Wu stood for "respectfor" over "reproduction of" the ancient,stressing the importance of artistic innovationwhile pursuing the ancient temperament.Wu accorded with the literati painting's character of integration of poetry,calligraphy,painting and seal carving,as was praisedin the remark that "the genuine meaning lying in the art of poetic literature,calligraphyand painting is valued for its in-depth practice and integral comprehension".He believedthat only through "integral comprehension" can one achieve establishment in both theinside and outside.He also advocated the unification of the four excellencies.With theemphasis on "introducing the calligraphic methodology to painting",Wu's freehand styleof painting revealed his remarkable skillfulness in seal script(zhuan),clerical script(li)and seal carving.Wu aspired for in his paintings "depicting the figures with ethos",whichmeans he emphasized the latter over the former,attaching little importance tofigurativeness,He has thereby shaped his artistic style of profoundness and freedom asthe uniqueness and novelty in the circle of Shanghai School.