Xu Beihong (July 19, 1895 – September 26, 1953), formerly known as Xu Shoukang, was a Chinese modern painter, art educator, and founder of modern Chinese art, along with Zhang Shuqi and Liu Zigu, known as the "Jinling Sanjie" of the painting world.
As Kang Youwei's disciple, he not only achieved outstanding achievements in painting, but also made great achievements in calligraphy. Xu Beihong's calligraphy is analyzed from many aspects such as its conceptual source, aesthetic connotation, spiritual orientation, value and significance, which is of great enlightening significance for our calligraphers today.
[Xu Beihong' saying: There are simple things in the world, and they are made complex for fools]
The words of the real name are always concise and concise, and only a few words can point to the essence of things. Mr. Xu Beihong began in the "JiyuQiao Characters": "There are simple things in the world, and the more complex they are made for fools, the farther they are, the more they lose their benefits, and Chinese calligraphy has one end." That's what his words have. At the end of the article, Mr. Beihong also has a very good saying, "The ancients did not have a 'pen', let alone today's so-called 'law'." It is not limited to the law is the ultimate law, this sentence is known to many people who study calligraphy, but it is rare to be able to understand the mysteries in the practice of calligraphy. I hope that Mr. Beihong's short words will have a positive guiding significance for contemporary calligraphy enthusiasts and even calligraphers.
[Chen Chuanxi: Xu Shu is the first in modern times]
When it comes to Xu Beihong's calligraphy art, Chen Chuanxi, a famous contemporary art critic, believes that Xu Shu is the first in modern times. This also reflects the value of Xu Beihong's calligraphy in contemporary times. Chen believes that his books have "seal gas, very high and ancient". Some people believe that Xu Beihong's calligraphy achievements exceed his paintings.
Xu Beihong's calligraphy can be separated from the influence of Kang Youwei's epigraphy and fully self-propelled, reflecting Xu Beihong's non-blind obedience as a generation of masters, which is the quality of spiritual independence that a true artist should have. In our time, many writers and painters are attracted to the teacher, and completely lose the independent thought that the artist should have, and he is not ashamed of what the artist should have. There are also those who never think out, which is a manifestation of the loss of an independent personality in art. Xu Beihong worshiped under Kang Youwei's door when he was young, and it is reasonable that his body should obviously leave traces of Kang Youwei's stele, but when we review Xu Shu, it seems that there is no trace of it at all. This is Xu Beihong, a master who is good at independent thinking and intends to come out of himself. This is also the value of the spiritual meaning of Xu Beihong's personality in our time.
Although Xu Beihong is famous for painting horses, xiaobian feels that his calligraphy is better than his Chinese paintings, is not a little better, what do you think?