On The Artistic Style Of Chen Shizeng's Flower And Bird Painting

In the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China,Chen Shizeng was an influential figure in both painting practice and painting theory.He was born into the Chen family with strong cultural flavor at that time.As supporters and promoters of the Reform Movement of 1898,his grandparents and fathers can reflect the ideological origin of innovation and change flowing through the Chen family's blood.Chen Shi's learning in Yining is based on the practical application of the world,always able to seek new and change in the development of the times,not to imitate the ancient,not the world,not flow at any time.Chen Shizeng grew up in such a family culture environment of seeking novelty and change.Chen Shizeng used to be a versatile painter of flowers,birds,landscapes and characters in painting practice.He himself once commented on "painting first,orchid bamboo first into painting,engraving second,poetry third".This article focuses on the artistic style of Chen Shizeng's flower-and-bird painting and its influence by sorting out the causes of its artistic style,the background of the times and the innovative ideas in the art of flower-and-bird painting.In addition,he has made great contributions in organizing art associations and promoting cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries.His death is not only a personal regret,but also a regret in the history of art.Liang Qichao appraised him as "the first person in modern art circle".His freehand flower-and-bird paintings are the most praised,and are personally taught by Wu Changshuo.He was inherited from Chen Chun,Xu Wei,Shi Tao and the “Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou”.In the aspect of painting innovation,Chen Shizeng once held a negative attitude towards the statement that Chinese painting at that time was backward,It holds that "literati painting does not seek similarity,but is the progress of painting",thus affirming that Chinese painting is progressive,and taking sketching as an important way to break through the old pattern of Chinese painting,blending it into traditional Chinese literati painting.In addition,Chen Shizeng had a comprehensive and dialectical understanding of Chinese traditional culture and western modern thought.He opposed the popular reformists in society and gave an objective and fair evaluation of Chinese traditional painting from the standpoint of comparison between Chinese and Western painting.He summarized the elements of literati painting as character,knowledge,talent and thought,which had been reflected in his flower-and-bird painting creation,and believed that all painting is to express spirit and emotion and interest.From the end of the 19 th century to the beginning of the 20 th century,Chinese society has undergone dramatic changes.Traditional literati paintings have been severely criticized.Chen Shi once believed that "literati paintings do not seek similarity,it is the progress of paintings." His continuation and development of literati painting provided a space for the survival of literati painting in the new soil.The elegance and poetry in his flower paintings also represent the spirit of Chinese traditional culture.As a leading figure in Beijing painting circle in the early Republic of China,Chen Shizeng's artistic achievements and artistic value were once underestimated.Today,facing our emphasis on cultural self-confidence and appealing to return to the traditional painting circle,what attitude should we take towards traditional culture? This makes Chen Shizeng's artistic thought and practice more worthy of our re-examination and re-positioning.