Wu Hufan is a famous painter, collector and connoisseur in modern times, who spent a lot of energy engaged in collection work to enhance his creative ability. He has painted many antique works, which can be imitated by the painting style of famous artists of the past. Some people advised him to go out and walk more, travel thousands of miles, look at the scenery of the country, and maybe he can go further. Wu Hufan is quite assertive, he still chooses to take the ancient as a teacher and continues to draw nourishment from traditional techniques.
This painting "Ten Thousand Peaks of Snow" was created by him in imitation of the Northern Song Dynasty Fan Kuan landscape, depicting the solemnity of heaven and earth after heavy snowfall. Different from the common snow landscape, "Ten Thousand Peaks of Snow" expresses the meaning of spring approaching, and there is life in the snow. Fan Kuan is a native of Huayuan, Shaanxi, so people affectionately call him "Fan Huayuan".
Wuhu Fan Wanfeng snow local
Born in Shuxiangmendi, Wu Hufan traveled to Japan in his youth and then returned to China to settle in Shanghai. During this time, he knew what he wanted to do and began to concentrate on learning painting. His good friends are all interested in "new" painting, but he has a fondness for "old-school" techniques. He started from the works of the Four Kings in the early Qing Dynasty, then studied the painting styles of the Ming Dynasty, and finally galloped in the artistic world created by painters of the Two Song Dynasties and the Yuan Dynasty. Fan Kuan is the object of Wu Hufan's inevitable imitation, and he hopes to learn the thick and domineering spirit of the giant mountain landscape.
It can be seen from "Ten Thousand Peaks of Snow" that Wu Hufan did not restore the artistic characteristics of Fan Kuan's photography and conveyance of the gods step by step, and his imitations have a strong decorative style. According to the knowledge in the painting, it can be understood that "Ten Thousand Peaks of Snow" is a "back copy". As the name suggests, it is Wu Hufan who copied this painting from memory. When he was accustomed to painting the orthodox style of the Four Kings and transformed the painting fankuan, he could not completely reverse it at once.
Because of this similar "mix-and-match" technique, it gives "Ten Thousand Peaks snow" a very strange look. The painting presents a majestic and fresh beauty, rigid and soft, beautiful. From the perspective of composition and method, it is very similar to Fan Kuan's works; from the inner temperament, it is very similar to the works of the four kings in the early Qing Dynasty.
Changing from the Ming and Qing painting styles to the Song and Yuan techniques caused Wu Hufan to paint "Ten Thousand Peaks of Snow", revealing his academic experience and the influence of his proficiency in collection on his creation. The paintings have a strong traditional interest, which soon made him a leading figure in the maritime school.
The appreciation of collection has enhanced Wu Hufan's vision, he knows what works are the best works that can withstand the test of history, and he knows what techniques are classics that can be passed on after thousands of hammers. This is why he chose to copy Fan Kuan's works, and he hoped to be able to match the ancients in creation. The wish is very beautiful, and if it can be copied against Fan Kuan's original day and night, it will be more perfect.
From "Ten Thousand Peaks of Snow", it can be seen that Wu Hufan attaches great importance to the charm of brushwork and uses pen color to pursue elegance. Thick and simple, exquisite and beautiful, it paints a beautiful expectation of spring coming after heavy snowfall.
"Ten Thousand Peaks of Snow" is based on the technique of the Four Kings and imitates the works of fan kuan, a famous artist of the Northern Song Dynasty. Reflecting the aesthetic characteristics of Wu Hufan's emphasis on pen and ink, he creates with the standard of appreciating ancient paintings, allowing people to see the vitality and adaptability of traditional techniques.