Chen Hongshou

This article deals with the painter 陈洪绶 from the 17th century, for the later 陈鸿寿 see Chen Hongshou (1768-1822) .

Chen Hongshou (Chinese: 陈洪绶, Pinyin : Chén Hóngshòu ; * 1598 or 1599 in Zhuji , Zhejiang Province; † 1652 ) was an important Chinese painter , graphic artist and illustrator at the end of the Ming Dynasty and in the transition to the Manchurian Qing Dynasty .

Chen Hongshou's grave

The artist, orphaned in early youth, began studying painting in his childhood. So he made in Hangzhou stone rubbings of the 72 portraits way that Li Gong Ling, a famous painter of the Northern Song Dynasty had created. He repeated these pictures at home. He stayed in Beijing twice . During his second stay he managed to gain access to the imperial academy. There he had access to the masterpieces of painting kept in the palace, including the portraits of the emperors. Chen's fame and popularity peaked. In addition to Cui Zizhong , the "Master of the North" , he was, as the "Master of the South" , considered one of the most important painters in his country. The end of the Ming Dynasty represented a turning point in his life. After the death (suicide) of the emperor, he withdrew to his homeland. Since he refused to paint for the new rulers (he remained with this attitude until the end of his life), he was briefly detained. He then spent a year in a Buddhist monastery in Shaoxing . After that he lived as a private citizen by selling his pictures. He finally surrendered to the drink. His grave on Hengpeng Mountain near Shaoxing is still preserved today. His biography was passed on by the contemporary collector and scholar Zhou Lianggong in his book Tuhualu, along with other artist biographies.

Chen Hongshou is still considered to be one of the most important painters in China. His work covers a wide spectrum. He left behind masterful landscapes, flowers and birds, exceptionally concise portraits of people, as well as an extensive work of book illustrations for such well-known works as the popular "The Robbers of Liangshan Moor" or "The West Chamber" by Wang Shifu .

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  landscape

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  Ox rider

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  Flowering branches with a butterfly

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  Flowers with poem

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  Portrait of a lady

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  Portrait of Tao Qian

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  traveler

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  The 4 joys of Nan Shenglu

Web links

Commons : Chen Hongshou  - Collection of Pictures, Videos and Audio Files

Note: This article places the family name before the person's first name. This is the usual order in Chinese. Chen is the family name here, Hongshou is the first name.