MASTER PAINTERS OF LINGNAN SCHOOL

MASTER PAINTERS OF LINGNAN SCHOOL

岭南画派大家

中国近代革新自南方起。西方思潮与维新思想的率先冲击，不仅孕育了社会改革精英，也影响了中国艺术的变革，“折衷中西，融汇古今”的岭南画派便由此催生。

明清两代，岭南画坛名家辈出，开始逐渐形成自己的特点。及至近代，西洋画法传进中国，岭南画家首开中西结合之风，“岭南画派”独步天下。而油画和版画等画种，主要也是由岭南画家介绍进中国，并由他们使之走向繁荣的。

革命精神是“岭南画派”产生和发展的基础。画派创始人高剑父、陈树人均曾追随孙中山奔走国事。民国初年，怀着通过艺术陶冶“改造国魂”的目标，高剑父与其弟高奇峰在上海开辟了“岭南画派”的主要宣传阵地——《真相画报》和审美书馆，运用画集与单张为新派绘画摇旗呐喊。他们在中国画的基础上融合东洋、西洋画法，注重写生，主张创新与写实的绘画理念与实践受到世人的广泛关注，与京津派、海派共同成为20世纪主宰中国画坛的三大派系。

“岭南画派”逐渐名声在外，然而这个名称却曾令创始人们感到不满。据关山月说：“当时高、陈诸先生认为‘岭南画派’这个名称带有狭窄的地域性，容易使人误解为只是地区性的画家团体。更主要的是，它没能体现出吸收外来营养使传统艺术发扬光大的革新国画的理想。”所以，高剑父从来没使用过“岭南画派”这一名称，而自称为“折衷派”。所谓“折衷”，即博采众长，合于一身。

GAO JIANFU (1879-1951)高剑父

Born in the Panyu District of Guangzhou, Gao learned painting from Chinese painter Ju Lian (1828-1904) in the early years of his life. Later, Gao went to study in Macau and Japan. He returned to China to lead the United League of Guangdong in the 1911 Revolution. After the Revolution, he dedicated himself to the development of the Lingnan School of painting. A firm advocate of modernised Chinese painting throughout his lifetime, he synthesised Japanese and Western painting techniques into traditional Chinese painting and was particularly skilled in drawing from nature. His works were in typical Lingnan style.

CHEN SHUREN (1884-1948)陈树人

Born in the Panyu District of Guangzhou, Chen was known along with Gao Jianfu and Gao Qifeng as the “Two Gaos and One Chen”, and was one of the founders of the Lingnan School of painting. In his early years, Chen studied in Japan, and graduated from Kyoto Academy of Fine Arts and Rikkyo University in Tokyo. Later, he followed Sun Yat-sen in the democratic revolution and served in a number of major positions. His style was refreshing, serene and unique.

GAO QIFENG (1889-1933) 高奇峰

Born in the Panyu District of Guangzhou, Gao Qifeng was one of the founders of the Lingnan School of painting. He was in fluenced by his elder brother Gao Jianfu in terms of painting skills, artistic ideas and life experience. He specialised in the painting of flora and fauna, and was quite skilled in landscape and portrait paintings. His works were well-known for neat and powerful brushwork, and a realistic and poetic style, thanks to his skilful use of colour and ink.

LI XIONGCAI (1910-2001) 黎雄才

Born in the city of Zhaoqing in Guangdong and a student of Gao Jianfu, Li was a representative of the 2nd generation of Lingnan School painters. He specialised in landscape painting, particularly on a large scroll. His works, painted with bold fluid sweeps of the brush, created an imposing atmosphere and suggested great majesty and splendour. His work in the early 1930's, A Rainy Night in Xiaoxiang, won a gold medal at the Brussels International Exposition of 1935.

GUAN SHANYUE (1912-2000) 关山月

Guan Shanyue, a native of Yangjiang City in Guangdong, graduated from City Normal College of Guangzhou in 1933. When teaching in an elementary school, he was discovered by Gao Jianfu, and was recruited into Chunshui Painting Studio where he learned painting with Gao. Guan upheld the reformative ideas of the Lingnan School of painting, and sought to paint contemporary and real-life themes. For that purpose, he plunged into the thick of life to seek inspirations and drew from it.