As an ancient art, Chinese calligraphy painting is characterized by a consistency of words and images. The relationship between Chinese calligraphy and traditional Chinese painting is very close, such as the old Chinese saying goes: «calligraphy and painting are of common origin (shu hua tong yuan 书画同源)».
Generally speaking, the inscription is important for Chinese painting which can be a topic, a few words of one’s own, or a poem, a piece of prose. Moreover, inscription can also play the role of bringing out the theme, following some laws to express artists’ emotion, personality, interest, artistic accomplishment, style and so on.
Feng Zikai (1898-1975), is one of the most gifted, prolific and important artists who emerges from the politically turmoil decades of the 1920s and 1930s, he was also an essayist, writer, translator, art and music educator.
As the so-called «Father of Chinese Cartoons», Feng’s artwork is characterized by a combination of Asian and Western drawing style , Simple and easy to understand.
To know more about Feng Zikai’s biography and artistic style, please click here: http://masterfengzikai.weebly.com/index.html
I. The Buddhism in Feng’s painting
Under the theme of developing a caring concern for every living thing under the sun, the core idea of Feng Zikai is to cultivate pity, benevolence and inner peace, which would in turn become «a caring heart»; this, Feng holds, is what we should have in everything we do with regard to those around us.
“客船自载钟声去，落日残僧立寺桥。”
The boat fades away carrying the bells from temple, standing alone on the bridge the old monk faces the sunset.
28*24cm, ink and color on paper, Zhejiang Provincial Museum
“人散后，一钩新月天如水” People scattered, a hook crescent day like water.
© Images are copyright of their respective owners, assignees or others
39*33cm, ink and color on paper, Hammer price: RMB 1,437,500 Poly International Auction,Co.,Ltd 03-06-2014
“平等” (Equality) My flesh is as same as other living creatures, we stem from the identical origin but only different in form.
Husheng Hua Ji 《护生画集》, Zhonghua Book Company, 01-1999 ISBN: 9787101023633
For more pieces compiled in Husheng Hua Ji 《护生画集》, please click: Husheng Hua Ji 《护生画集》
II. The Education in Feng’s painting
If you like a flower and you think its beautiful and fragrant you should let it grow naturally otherwise to «help» it grow.
“难 关” The difficulties
Painting on the paper with ink and Chinese calligraphy brush Baba de Hua 《爸爸的画》, ECNUP Press, 04-2001 ISBN: 9787561784129
“某种教育” Some kind of education
Painting on the paper with ink and Chinese calligraphy brush
Page 147, Feng Zikai Ertong Manhua Xuan 《丰子恺儿童漫画选》, China International Publishing Group, CIPG, 09-2010 ISBN: 7511003877, 9787511003874
“剪冬青联想” (Cut the holly thinking) — A row of Holly, is poor by High and low not neat, the lowest only reach chest, the highest can reach shoulder, breezing at moon night, the beautiful shadow dance, Worker is looking for in the garden, With scissors to cut the branches, the beautiful natural branches posture being cut as a small wall, the branches and leaves being cut up, white blood flow.
Painting on the paper with ink and Chinese calligraphy brush Husheng Hua Ji 《护生画集》, Zhonghua Book Company, 01-1999 ISBN: 9787101023633
III. The Children in Feng’s painting
My heart has been occupied by four things: the Gods of heaven, the stars in the sky, the art and the children.
“折得荷花浑忘却，空将荷叶盖头归” Oblivious to the lotus that has picked and go back home with the leaf as hats”
Lotus Leaf Hats
68 x 31.5 cm, Inscribed and signed, with two seals of the artist Hanging scroll, ink and color on paper, 20th Century
For more information of this piece, click here: Lotus Leaf Hats
“郎骑竹马来” You come by riding a bamboo horse
Riding Bamboo Horse
37 x 31 cm, Hanging scroll ink and color on paper, Inscribed and signed, with two seals of the artist Sale 2378, Fine Chinese Modern Paintings, 26 November 2007, Hong Kong
“哥哥带点笑，妹妹头抬高， 弟弟别吃糕” Brother smiles, sister raises her head, and younger brother, stop eating the cake!
Taking Photos, 68*35cm, Hanging scroll ink and color on paper, Signed Zikai, dated 1956, inscribed, and with three seals of the artist China Guardian Hong Kong 2013 Spring Auctions
For more information of this piece, click here: Taking photos
With all the analysis we can find that in Feng’s work, the words are not only an explanation of the painting, but also create a mood and even a story behind it. The two can bring out the best part of each other, with the help of the words, a great deal of thought went into the composition of each picture and make it a more rich content. The curator of Hongkong Museum of Art used to say that Feng’s ink brushstrokes are confident and fluid, which can’t be seen on reproduced or digital images. And he suggested that people should visit the gallery to experience seeing Feng’s art close up. We hope everyone of us would have this opportunity to observe Feng Zikai’s artwork in person.
To observe more pieces of Feng Zikai, do not hesitate to click here: Feng Zikai Paintings
Arte y cultura de masas en la china contemporánea 