博
Artist: Wu Hufan (1894-1968)
Date: Modern
Material: Ink on paper
This is the manuscript of Wu Hufan's Miscellaneous Notes from the Meijing Studio, containing his reflections on the connoisseurship of painting and calligraphy as well as his research notes. In the preface, he explains his theoretical concept of "spirit and essence" in painting. During the modern period, the Western art deeply influenced the Chinese art circle. As figurative paintings were widely celebrated, the tradition of imitating ancient Chinese painting became increasingly superficial, merely pursuing formal resemblance in brushwork. Grounded in his connoisseurship and creative practice, Wu Hufan examined the differences between Chinese and Western painting, reaffirming the unique aesthetic tradition of Chinese painting. He proposed that the essence of Chinese painting should be measured by philosophy rather than by science, and it should be sought through appreciating paintings, reading classics, and meditating life experience. Chinese paintings should not be judged by the degree of likeness to real objects.
