"Step Map" is one of the famous works of the Tang Dynasty painter Yan Liben, and one of the famous paintings passed down from generation to generation, which is now in the Palace Museum. "Step Diagram" is colored on silk, the figure does not have a background, the structure is from right to left, from tight to gradually sparse, the focus is prominent, and the rhythm is distinct. The picture is elegant and gorgeous, the lines are smooth and round, and the composition is staggered and varied.
The "Step Map" is based on the historical event of the Tubo king Songzan Gampo marrying Princess Wencheng into Tibet: during the Tang Zhenguan period, Songzan Gampo sent an envoy Lu Dongzan to the Tang Dynasty capital Chang'an to meet Tang Taizong with a noble dowry, and asked to marry Tang Taizong, tang Taizong agreed to Tubo's marriage request, and betrothed into a marriage contract, and the following year, Princess Wencheng entered Tibet.
For such a major historical event, in addition to the records of historical documents, it is this "Step Map". When Yan Liben chose to record this historical event with paintings, he did not depict the grand scene of Princess Wencheng entering Tibet, nor did he depict the scene of Tang Taizong holding a solemn ceremony to welcome the envoy, nor did he depict the grand scene of sending or welcoming relatives, but only cut the specific scene of Tang Taizong riding a step to make Lu Dongzan to depict it, so as to reflect this historical event.
Without background, Yan Liben depicts the scene of Tang Taizong receiving the Tubo emissary Lu Dongzan on a rifle with great simplicity: the picture of "Step Diagram" adopts an asymmetrical and balanced composition, and the right half of the painting is Tang Taizong sitting in the footsteps surrounded by palace women.
Obviously, Tang Taizong's image is the focus of the whole picture, and he is also the C figure in the picture. In the painting, Tang Taizong has a handsome face, deep eyes, a solemn look, a majestic and self-assured demeanor, and surrounded by Tang Taizong are nine palace women: some of them are lifted, some are supporting, some are holding fans, some are holding umbrellas, and their posture is light, seemingly moving forward slowly, full of movement.
The three people on the left half lined up solemnly, in stark contrast to the right, and there was a quiet mood: the person wearing the red robe in front was the introducing official of the imperial court, the second was the Tubo emissary Lu Dongzan, and the third person wearing white clothes was the accompanying interpreter. All the figures in the painting, whether they are a group on the left or a group moving on the right, do not make excessive artistic exaggerations in terms of dynamics, but focus on the profound portrayal of the expressions of the characters.
The composition of "Step Diagram" is sparse and dense, dynamic and static, very rhythmic and rhythmic, both contrasting and unified, and the main characters are very prominent. In addition, the picture also depicts the sincere and respectful mood of the messenger Lu Dongzan standing solemnly.
As for the introducer and the retinue, due to the difference in status and identity, how disparity in expression and temperament was. And the nine palace ladies are only generally depicted, playing a role in foiling. It can be seen that the painter has a really good grasp of the character expression when portraying the character of the character, and gives full play to the characteristics of Chinese painting in terms of form writing god and form god.
Most of the characters in the "Step Diagram" have relatively simple clothing patterns, but in the simplicity, the painter also pays full attention to the dense changes in the clothing patterns, and the clothing of different textures can also be expressed with different lines of different techniques, so that it is not monotonous and boring: the precision pattern on Lu Dongzan's robe not only reflects the obvious dense changes, but also fully expresses the characteristics of national costumes.
"Step Map" with a strong color, the color of the use of flat compresses, slightly blended method, in addition to the use of black, mainly with big red, ochre yellow, white, stone green and other colors, appears calm and stable and somewhat rich atmosphere, and the theme of this painting is very consistent.
The color of "Step Map" is very infectious, can bring people a strong visual experience, the left side introduces the large red of the official uniform and the small strip of red on the right palace dress in the area of both contrast and echo; the white robe of the left attendant and the white top of the right palace girl are also just right, increasing the unity of the picture. And Tang Taizong's deep ochre yellow costume contrasts with the light color of the light-colored tops of the surrounding palace women, like the stars arching the moon, thus highlighting important people.
From the perspective of painting art, Yan Liben's expressive skills are already quite skilled. The outline ink line of the clothing utensils is smooth and smooth with tenacity, smooth but not slippery, sudden but not lagging; the main character's demeanor is lifelike, and the portrayal can be more curved and charming; the image is partially blended, such as the fold of the boot barrel worn by the character, which is very three-dimensional; the whole volume is set with thick and pure colors, and the large area of red and green blocks are staggered, full of rhythm and distinct visual effects.