Summary:
The purpose of this paper is to compare and study the Tang Dynasty ladies' paintings and Japanese ukiyo-e beauty paintings, and to explore their similarities and differences in artistic expression, cultural connotation, artistic inheritance and innovation. Firstly, the historical background and development characteristics of Tang Dynasty ladies' paintings and ukiyo-e beauty paintings are introduced, and the differences between them in terms of artistic style, cultural aesthetic concepts and artistic inheritance are analyzed. Then, through comparative research, the significance of the two in artistic inheritance and innovation, as well as their influence on cross-cultural communication and artistic integration, are discussed.
I. Introduction
In the long history of art in China and Japan, Tang Dynasty ladies' paintings and Japanese ukiyo-e beauty paintings are both high-profile art forms. The paintings of ladies and ladies of the Tang Dynasty carry the essence of ancient Chinese culture, show all aspects of social life in the Tang Dynasty, and are an important part of the history of Chinese painting. The Japanese ukiyo-e beauty painting is one of the representative art forms of the Edo period in Japan, which not only has a profound influence on Japan itself, but also has a great influence on Western art.
II. Comparison of the subject matter of Tang Dynasty ladies' paintings and ukiyo-e beauty paintings
A. The subject matter characteristics of the Tang Dynasty ladies' paintings
Tang Dynasty ladies' paintings are known for their diverse and rich subject matter, reflecting all aspects of social life in the Tang Dynasty and showing the life and aesthetic tastes of the literati at that time.
Literati Collection
Tang Dynasty ladies' paintings often depict scenes of literati and scholars living in elegant gatherings. Yaji was an important place for literati in the Tang Dynasty to exchange knowledge and express their feelings, so in the paintings of ladies, literati and scholars can often be seen gathering together to enjoy tea and discuss poems, play the piano and write poems, or chant poems and paint, which is full of interest. This kind of theme reflects the life attitude and spiritual outlook of the literati in the Tang Dynasty, and promotes the noble sentiments and humanistic spirit of the literati.
Court life
Another important subject was court life. The Tang Dynasty court was the center of politics and culture, and the late Tang Dynasty was even more prominent in the power of women, so the Tang Dynasty ladies often depicted the life scenes of court ladies and concubines, who wore gorgeous costumes and jewelry, dignified and elegant, showing the unique charm of Tang Dynasty court culture.
Idyllic scenery
In addition to elegant gatherings and court life, Tang Dynasty ladies' paintings often depicted pastoral scenes. The pastoral scene in the paintings of the ladies is often picturesque, sometimes the ladies are playing by the pond, sometimes they are collecting medicine in the mountains, showing the Tang people's love for nature and yearning for pastoral life.
B. The subject matter characteristics of ukiyo-e beauty paintings
In contrast, ukiyo-e beauty paintings are more diverse in subject matter, paying more attention to the details and emotional expressions of everyday life.
Flowers, birds, and insects
Ukiyo-e beauty paintings often feature natural elements such as flowers, birds, and insects, emphasizing the Japanese people's love and respect for nature. Painters often skillfully combine beauty with flowers, birds and insects to create a beautiful and harmonious artistic conception.
Lifestyle lifestyle
Ukiyo-e beauty paintings also reflect the fashionable life of Japan's Edo period. The beauties in the paintings are often dressed in ornate kimonos, with elaborate hairstyles and exquisite accessories, showing the lifestyle and aesthetic concepts of Japanese society at that time. In addition, artists often depict beautiful women participating in various fashion activities, such as cherry blossom viewing, boat cruises, and theater attendance, which vividly depict urban life in the Edo period.
Theatrical performances
Ukiyo-e paintings of beauties also often depict scenes from theatrical performances. Japanese theater such as Kabuki was popular in the Edo period, so it is common to see beautiful women playing various roles and performing traditional operas in beautiful paintings, showing the unique charm of Japanese theater culture.
III. Similarities and Differences in Composition and Layout
A. Compositional characteristics of Tang Dynasty ladies' paintings
The compositional characteristics of Tang Dynasty ladies' paintings lie in their symmetry and balance, spatial perspective, and the treatment of the relationship between objects and images.
Symmetry and balance
Tang Dynasty ladies' paintings focused on symmetry and balance, and the picture was often divided into symmetrical parts through the central axis, making the whole picture appear stable and harmonious. The postures, costumes, and surrounding scenery of the ladies are often symmetrically arranged, which is not only beautiful, but also conforms to the aesthetic concepts of the time.
Spatial perspective
In terms of spatial perspective, Tang Dynasty ladies' paintings often adopted a layered spatial structure of foreground, middle and back scenes to highlight the sense of depth of the picture. In the distance, there are often landscapes or buildings, in the middle are figures, and in the near are flowers and trees, which makes the picture more three-dimensional and jumpy.
Object-image relationship
Tang Dynasty ladies' paintings also attached great importance to the relationship between objects and images, and the figures were often closely related to the surrounding environment and objects, echoing each other. For example, the musical instrument in the lady's hand contrasts with the landscape next to her, or the lady's costume echoes the pattern of the chair, and this object-like relationship makes the picture richer and more vivid.
B. Compositional features of ukiyo-e beauty paintings
Ukiyo-e beauty paintings are significantly different from Tang Dynasty ladies' paintings in terms of composition, and their characteristics are mainly manifested in fractured and fragmented composition, plane expression and perspective relationship, perspective selection and picture cropping.
Fractured and fragmented compositions
Unlike the Tang Dynasty ladies' paintings, which pursued symmetry and balance, ukiyo-e beauty paintings often used fractured and fragmented compositions. The picture is cut into pieces of various shapes to form a staggered layout, and this composition gives a unique aesthetic and visual impact.
Plane representation and perspective relationship
The composition of ukiyo-e beauty paintings often focuses on flat expression, emphasizing the decorative and decorative effects of the picture. The figures, flowers, birds, insects and other elements in the picture are often presented on a flat surface, lacking obvious perspective relationships, and this composition makes the picture more flat and more like a decorative pattern.
Angle selection and image cropping
In terms of perspective selection and picture cropping, ukiyo-e beauty paintings often use special perspectives and cropping methods to highlight the theme or emotion in the picture. The picture may only show a part of the beauty, such as the side face, side back, etc., this partial presentation can attract the viewer's attention more, making the picture more vivid and full of tension.
IV. Comparison of the use of line and brushwork
A. Characteristics of the lines painted by ladies in the Tang Dynasty
Smooth and feminine
The lines painted by the ladies of the Tang Dynasty are usually characterized by smoothness and softness. The painter uses delicate brushstrokes to depict the posture of the ladies, their costumes and the surrounding environment in a curvaceous, smooth and natural way, which not only makes the picture more rhythmic, but also shows the Tang Dynasty literati's pursuit of feminine beauty.
Line drawing changes in weight
In the paintings of ladies in the Tang Dynasty, the light and heavy changes of the lines are very rich. The painter expresses the contours and textures of different objects by deepening or lightening the thickness and depth of the lines. For example, the lines of the ladies' clothes, hair, and surrounding flowers and trees may vary in thickness, and the processing of such lines makes the picture more three-dimensional and full, enhancing the viewer's visual experience.
Linear performance and expression of emotion
In the Tang Dynasty, the ladies' paintings paid attention to the expression of expressions and emotions in the expression of lines. The painter outlines the facial expressions of the ladies through delicate lines, such as the tenderness between the eyebrows, the affection at the corners of the eyes, and the slight smile at the corners of the mouth, making the images of the ladies more vivid and real, and the viewer can feel the emotional flow of their inner world.
B. Characteristics of the lines of ukiyo-e beauty paintings
Simplicity and fluidity
The line expression of ukiyo-e beauty paintings is usually simple and smooth. The painter is good at outlining the outline and posture of the beauty with concise lines, avoiding too many details, making the picture more refreshing and concise, and at the same time more decorative.
Thickness changes and upright posture
In ukiyo-e beauty paintings, the thickness of the lines is often closely related to the posture of the beauty. The painter expresses the upright and graceful posture of the beauty through the change of lines, such as the thin and soft lines at the neck, and the thick and powerful lines at the body, which makes the beauty image more three-dimensional and vivid.
Decorative lines and dynamic feelings
The lines of ukiyo-e beauty paintings often have a certain decorative nature, and painters often use decorative lines to embellish the beauty's clothing and surrounding environment to enhance the decorative effect of the picture. At the same time, the use of lines can also express the dynamic feelings of beauty, such as flowing sleeves and flying hair, which makes the picture more vivid and interesting.
V. Similarities and differences in the use of color
A. Color characteristics of Tang Dynasty ladies' paintings
Pastel and elegant tones
The paintings of ladies in the Tang Dynasty are dominated by soft and elegant tones, often using elegant colors such as pink, light purple, and light green to create a gentle and feminine atmosphere. These colors not only reflect the gentleness and elegance of the Tang Dynasty literati's aesthetic taste for women, but also express their sensitivity to nature and their yearning for a better life.
Color and white space
In the paintings of ladies and ladies in the Tang Dynasty, painters were good at using color and white space to enhance the layering and space of the picture. Coloring refers to the subtle color changes to express the texture and light and shadow effects of objects, while blank space refers to leaving a certain blank area in the picture to make the picture more transparent and refreshing. This color treatment makes the picture richer and more three-dimensional, and at the same time enhances the viewer's imagination.
Color symbolism and metaphorical meaning
The colors in Tang Dynasty ladies' paintings often have symbolic and metaphorical meanings. For example, red is often used to symbolize festivity and auspiciousness, expressing the yearning for a happy and beautiful life, green is often associated with nature, representing the vitality and vitality of life, and yellow is often used to symbolize wealth and honor. The symbolism of these colors not only enriches the connotation of the picture, but also reflects the profound experience and perception of life in literati art.
B. The color characteristics of ukiyo-e beauty paintings
Bright and bright color combinations
Unlike Tang Dynasty ladies' paintings, ukiyo-e beauty paintings pay more attention to bright and bright color combinations. Painters often use bold colors such as red, yellow, and blue to make the picture vibrant and dynamic. The choice and use of this color not only conformed to the aesthetic taste of the society at that time, but also reflected the hedonistic attitude of ukiyo-e art towards life and the pursuit of beauty.
Contrast vs. saturation
Ukiyo-e beauty paintings often use strong contrasts and highly saturated colors to highlight the visual effect of the picture and express the gorgeous demeanor of the beauty. Through the contrast of colors and the adjustment of saturation, the painter can make the picture more vivid and vivid, and enhance the visual impact of the viewer.
Color and emotional expression
Colors in ukiyo-e beauty paintings are often closely related to emotional expression. For example, red may represent joy and enthusiasm, while blue may symbolize melancholy and contemplation, enhancing the emotional expression of the beauty image through the expression of color.
VI. Conclusion
There are significant similarities and differences between the Tang Dynasty ladies' paintings and ukiyo-e beauty paintings in terms of artistic expression and cultural connotation.
1. Differences in Artistic Expression Styles:
Tang Dynasty ladies' paintings focused on the expression of gentle and elegant female figures, with soft colors, color and blank space, and more attention to emotional expression and metaphorical meaning. Ukiyo-e beauty paintings, on the other hand, pursue vivid and lively pictures, with bright and bright colors, focusing on contrast and saturation, and highlighting the gorgeous demeanor and emotional expression of beauties.
2. The influence of cultural background and social aesthetics:
Influenced by Confucian culture and women's aesthetic concepts, Tang Dynasty ladies' paintings emphasized women's gentleness, virtuousness and restraint, reflecting the society's expectations and praise for women at that time. Ukiyo-e beauty paintings, on the other hand, were influenced by the hedonism and the pursuit of feminine beauty in Japanese society during the Edo period, and expressed the aesthetic tastes and attitudes of the society at that time.
3. The path of artistic inheritance and innovation:
The paintings of ladies and ladies of the Tang Dynasty have an important position in the history of Chinese painting, and have had a profound impact on the painting art of later generations, becoming an important part of the Chinese painting tradition. Ukiyo-e beauty paintings are a highlight in the history of Japanese painting, not only inheriting the tradition of Japanese painting, but also creating a golden age of ukiyo-e art through innovation.
Author: Lu Xilin
Bibliography:
Mason, Penelope. History of Japanese Art. Pearson, 2014.
Waswo, Richard. Ukiyo-e to Shin Hanga: The Art of Japanese Woodblock Prints. Floating World Editions, 2013.
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