Peking Opera master Mei Lanfang's painting achievements are so profound

Mei Lanfang is one of the most representative figures in the field of Peking Opera, ranking first among the "Four Famous Dans" of modern Peking Opera. In fact, Mei Lanfang not only achieved great achievements in the art of Peking Opera, but also her painting achievements were quite profound, but her painting title was little known by the name of the play. Mei Lanfang's obsession with painting is no less than that of opera, and if she continues along the path of painting, the master of opera may become a master of painting like Wu Changshuo and Xu Beihong.

Mei Lanfang (October 22, 1894 – August 8, 1961), born in Beijing in the 20th year of the Qing Dynasty (1894), was born in Taizhou, Jiangsu Province. Name Lan, the word 畹华, do not sign the owner of Yuxuan, stage name Lan Fang. Master of Chinese Peking Opera performing arts.

In Mr. Mei Lanfang's eyes, drama is not the only way of art he believes, but only one of the traditional Chinese arts. Of course, theatre and other arts are inextricably linked and share a common intrinsic quality. Therefore, Mr. Mei Lanfang can always find inspiration in painting and integrate into his Peking Opera performances.

Mr. Mei Lanfang's grandfather Mei Qiaoling and father Mei Zhufen both like calligraphy, and the family also collects many Ming and Qing dynasty calligraphy and paintings, and mei Lanfang also likes to paint very much under the influence of the family. In order to draw beneficial nourishment from the art of calligraphy and painting for Peking Opera, he began to read the painting scores in his study and studied them as soon as he had time.

After studying for a period of time, Mei Lanfang felt that she should formally learn the art from a teacher to avoid taking many detours, so she studied flower and bird painting from Wang Mengbai under the introduction of the calligraphy and painting collector Luo Luogong. After formally visiting the teacher, Wang Mengbai went to Mei Lanfang's home every Monday, March and Friday to give Mei Lanfang patient and meticulous guidance. Mei Lanfang studied painting very seriously, and it did not take long for her to have a deep understanding of the use of brushes, inks, and compositions in paintings.

During the period of learning painting from Wang Mengbai, Mei Lanfang also became acquainted with many famous painters in Beijing, all of whom were well-known figures in modern and modern history, including Chen Shizeng, Jin Cheng, Yao Mang's father, Wang Aisheng, Chen Banding, Qi Baishi and so on. These painters were also mentors and friends with Mei Lanfang, and Mei Lanfang was often inspired and taught in their interactions.

After 1920, Mei Lanfang began to learn to paint with Qi Baishi. When Mei Lanfang studied painting with Qi Baishi, his fame in the opera world was already in the sky. People thought that his worshipper was just a showmanship, and Qi Baishi also said to him: "You are so famous, calling me a master is to lift up the old man, don't mention what worshippers and does not worship the master..." But Mei Lanfang insisted that a worship ceremony must be held and kneel down in parallel. After Bai Baishi was a teacher, no matter the wind and rain, he took a rickshaw to Qi Baishi's home middle school on time to paint, and always bowed to the teacher to say hello when he entered the door, looking like a primary school student. During the period of studying painting with Qi Baishi, Mei Lanfang worked very diligently and was extremely respectful to her teachers, and many of her words and deeds of respecting teachers and diligent learning have become good stories that have been passed down to this day.

During the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, Mei Lanfang insisted on the national festival, which was not used by the Japanese and died on the stage. With no financial resources and his life in difficulty, several painters suggested that he hold a painting exhibition to make ends meet from the sale of paintings. Mei Lanfang accepted this suggestion, actively painted day and night, thanks to the support and encouragement of painters, in the spring of 1945, he and Ye Yuhu jointly organized the exhibition was finally held, which was Mei Lanfang's first exhibition, which was very successful.

On May 31, 1961, at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, he performed "Mu Guiying Hangs Up the Marshal" for scientists, which was Mei Lanfang's last performance in her stage career, and on July 9, Mei Lanfang was appointed as the dean of the Chinese Academy of Performing Arts.

Mr. Mei Lanfang's life is wonderful, bringing art and life, and interest together, allowing traditional Chinese calligraphy and painting to enter the theater, expanding the field of art, and breaking the original artistic barriers, creating a new way out, and spreading this new thing abroad.