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Landscape painting by a versatile painter in the late Qing Dynasty | Paintings by Lu Huishan

2024-07-31

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Lu Hui: (1851-1920), an outstanding painter in the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China, left a strong mark in the history of Chinese painting with his profound artistic attainments and unique personal charm. Although he experienced twists and turns in his life, he never gave up his pursuit and love of art. His artistic achievements are not only reflected in his superb painting skills, but also in his deep understanding and integration of tradition and innovation.



Lu Hui, whose original name was Youhui, whose courtesy name was Lianfu and whose pseudonym was Xiansou, was originally from Wujiang, Jiangsu Province. He showed a strong interest and talent in calligraphy and painting since he was a child. He studied for the imperial examination at a young age and showed his talent by getting the first place in the entrance examination for scholars. He was expected to rise to a high position in the imperial examination, but because his father had participated in the Taiping Rebellion, he was dragged into the political whirlpool for no reason, and his road to fame came to an abrupt end. Although this change made him lose the opportunity to enter the official career, it unexpectedly pushed him into the vast world of art.



Facing the turning point of fate, Lu Hui did not become depressed, but instead devoted all his passion and energy to the art of calligraphy and painting. He studied under Liu Deliu, specializing in flowers, fruits, and feathers. His skills improved day by day, earning him the reputation of "a master beyond orchids". On the road to art, Lu Hui was not only diligent and hardworking, but also good at observing nature and drawing inspiration. By chance, he passed by a Buddhist temple and saw the statues of the Eighteen Arhats, whose different expressions were lifelike, which shocked him greatly. He immediately copied them with paper and ink. This experience not only trained his observation skills, but also deepened his understanding of artistic expression.



In Lu Hui's artistic career, the encounter with Wu Dazhen was undoubtedly an important turning point. Wu Dazhen, as a famous collector and connoisseur at the time, had a rich collection of paintings from the Tang and Song dynasties to the Yuan and Ming dynasties, all of which were breathtaking. The two formed a deep friendship due to their similar interests. Lu Hui was able to take this opportunity to observe and copy a large number of authentic ancient paintings up close, which undoubtedly provided rich nutrition and inspiration for his future artistic creation. Under the influence of Wu Dazhen, Lu Hui's artistic vision became broader, his skills became more sophisticated, and he gradually formed his own unique style of vigorous, elegant, ancient and profound.



Lu Hui traveled extensively throughout his life, from the Jiangnan water towns to the Three Rivers and Four Rivers, and then to the Liaodong scenic spots. His footprints were all over the country. These rich travel experiences not only broadened his horizons, but also enriched his artistic creation materials. During the journey, he felt the beauty of nature with his heart, and incorporated what he saw and felt into his brush, making his paintings have both a deep traditional background and vivid vitality.



After middle age, Lu Hui retired to Suzhou and devoted himself to painting and studying inscriptions on bronze and stone inscriptions, a process that lasted for thirty years. Not only did he achieve outstanding artistic achievements, he was also committed to training his students, with dozens of followers, and cultivated a group of outstanding artists for the Jiangnan painting world in the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China. His teaching not only focused on the transmission of skills, but also emphasized the love and persistence of art, as well as a deep understanding of tradition and innovation.




Lu Hui's artistic achievements have been widely recognized and praised. His landscape paintings follow the style of the "Four Wangs", but he is also able to come up with his own style and render them realistically. He is known as "the old painter of Jiangnan in the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China". Huang Binhong even listed him as the first of the Nine Friends of Painting, praising him for "being the first to gain fame, learning landscape from the Four Wangs, and being able to render them realistically". Lu Hui's paintings are not only a display of his personal artistic talent, but also a vivid portrayal of the spirit of Chinese traditional culture and the style of the times.
Lu Hui's life was a life of unremitting pursuit of art and a life of profound understanding of life. His artistic achievements and personal charm, like the landscapes he painted, are still shining after years of baptism, inspiring future generations to keep moving forward and constantly explore and pursue on the road of art.



















































































































































































































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