Painting · Style

Name: Painting · Style
ISBN: 9787301338964

刘延风 / 张宏发Peking University Press · ChinaJun 2025

3.2

Word count: 40K words
Chapters: 28
ISBN: 9787301338964

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Summary

This book presents classic flower-and-bird painting techniques alongside an appreciation of the paintings of artist Liu Yanfeng. Whether the ink is dense or light, dry or moist, the brushwork records Mr. Liu Yanfeng's spiritual feelings, state of mind, and artistic pursuits as he entrusts his emotions to mountains and waters and engages in dialogue with flowers, birds, insects, and fish. It also conveys the philosophical reflections and aesthetic characteristics embedded in traditional Chinese culture.

Editor's review

This book centers on the classic flower-and-bird painting methods and an appreciation of the painter Liu Yanfeng's creative work. The brushwork, whether dense or light, dry or moist, conveys the painter's spiritual experience and artistic pursuit—finding expression in landscape and communing with flowers, birds, insects, and fish. Its strength lies in placing technique and appreciation side by side: it discusses painting methods while also addressing the spiritual realm behind the works, extending into philosophical reflection and aesthetic features within traditional Chinese culture. For readers who wish to begin with flower-and-bird painting or deepen their appreciation of Chinese painting, the book offers a path from concrete brushwork into aesthetic concepts. As you read, it helps to compare the text repeatedly with the paintings—first observe the forms of brushwork, then sense the sentiment and artistic conception they convey; this makes it easier to enter the state than reading words alone. It is not a quick technique manual; it suits readers willing to read slowly and savor.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in Chinese flower-and-bird painting who wish to begin appreciating it
Painting enthusiasts studying Chinese painting who want to understand the relationship between brushwork and artistic conception
Readers concerned with aesthetic and philosophical expression in traditional culture
Readers who enjoy understanding artistic creation through the appreciation of paintings

Not a good fit for

Beginners seeking step-by-step painting tutorials or quick technique methods
Readers with no interest in traditional Chinese painting who want only pure textual theory
Readers expecting a systematic general art history or extensive biographical material on painters

Reading tips

As you read, compare the text with the paintings: first observe the density, lightness, dryness, and moisture of the brushwork, then read the analysis to grasp the relationship between technique and artistic conception.
After finishing the analysis of each painting, try to summarize its sentiment and spiritual pursuit in your own words.
You may look through it alongside a collection of classic flower-and-bird paintings to deepen your understanding of the lineage of traditional methods.
Do not rush; choose a few paintings that interest you and read them closely and repeatedly—this is more rewarding than reading straight through once.

About the publisher

Peking University Press China · Founded in 1979

Peking University Press is a comprehensive university press whose publishing areas cover classical literature, popular science, social culture, world history, Western philosophy, and culture. Its catalogue contains 6,031 titles, with representative books including A Dream of Red Mansions, Relativity: The Special and General Theory (15th Edition) (with Einstein's classic papers on unified field theory and other topics), Elements, Conics, The Aristocratic Families of the Eastern Jin, The Philosophy of Mythology (Volume I), The Philosophy of Mythology (Volume II), and The Origin of Continents and Oceans. Representative authors include Cao Xueqin, Zhou Ruchang, Albert Einstein, Euclid, Apollonius, Tian Yuqing, Schelling, and Xian Gang. The press has developed distinctive strengths in classical Chinese literature and in the translation of Western philosophical classics, while also covering scientific classics and social and cultural studies. As public information is limited, this description is based only on the books in the catalogue and offers no further extrapolation.

版权信息
代序艺术无国界，各有各的味
第一章笔法与立意
《老拐杖》：折射人生哲学
《天问》：执着与探究
《如意图》：美好的心愿
《相思》：古意的寄情
《桌上饰物》：小摆件见大气象
《梧桐圣果》：承载爱与诗意
《春夏秋冬》：时光的人文情愫
第二章墨法与气韵
《风雪同归》：遒劲之美
《水上双栖》：跌宕池塘几度春
《竹禽雪霁图》：品格之美
《竹禽雪吟秀》：大道自然
《荷风》：传统与现代的强烈碰撞
《一帘秋雨万荷焦》：破与立的超境界
《云南雪霁》：天人合一的哲学思考
第三章章法与妙境
《荷之韵》：上善若水
《清幽世界》：画家的艺术特质
《荷趣》：艺术的情感力量
《四喜临门》：盈于笔端的价值观
《玉兰报春》：平淡出神奇
《无言之美》：无声胜有声
《醉沐春风》：习古而不泥古
《红韵满枝头》：处处妙境
第四章雅赏与品鉴

FAQ

Is this book a technique tutorial or a painting appreciation?

According to the materials, the book contains both content on classic flower-and-bird painting methods and appreciation of the painter Liu Yanfeng's works. The two are combined: it discusses brushwork technique as well as the spiritual experience, spiritual realm, and aesthetic pursuit conveyed by the paintings. It is not a simple step-by-step tutorial.

Can readers with no painting background understand this book?

Yes. The appreciation sections focus on feeling and aesthetics and do not require a painting background. If brushwork terminology is unfamiliar, you can look at the paintings first and then read the text, gradually building an intuitive understanding of concepts such as density, lightness, dryness, and moisture.

What traditional cultural connotations are reflected in the book?

The materials mention that the paintings convey philosophical reflection and aesthetic features embedded in traditional Chinese culture, presented through the painter's expression of finding feeling in landscape and communing with flowers, birds, insects, and fish. Specific discussions should be based on the book's content.

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About the author

刘延风 Author

Liu Yanfeng is an author for whom publicly available information is currently limited, and whose writing is mainly oriented toward the field of art. One work by this author is held in the collection, namely Hua · Feng (Painting · Style). Judging from the title and its common classification, the book belongs to art writing and revolves around painting and style, possibly addressing artistic creation, artistic expression, or visual style. Because biographical details have not appeared in public sources, the author's nationality, dates of birth and death, educational background, and creative experience cannot be confirmed, and excessive speculation about personal history would therefore be inappropriate. On the basis of the available material, Liu Yanfeng's writing appears to be specialized writing on artistic topics rather than that of a widely known popular author. Readers interested in painting and style may take this work as an entry point for understanding the author's writing orientation. A fuller understanding of the author awaits further public information and a more extensive presentation of the works themselves.

张宏发 Author

Public information about Zhang Hongfa is quite limited. Details of his life, such as nationality, dates of birth and death, and English name, have not been clearly recorded, and what can be confirmed at present is only that he has come to readers' attention through art-related writing. The library holds one work by him, Painting · Wind, which is classified under art. Judging from the title and category, the book likely revolves around painting and style, and may address painting practice, art appreciation, or commentary on style. Because more verifiable background material is lacking, it is still difficult to give a complete account of the overall character of his writing style; yet based on the limited information about this work, Zhang Hongfa's writing appears to take visual art as its point of entry and to use text to discuss the relationship between images and style. For readers who wish to learn about him, the only available means at present is this single work, through which they may sense the artistic topics he attends to and his manner of expression. More about the author's experience and creative trajectory remains to be supplemented by further public information.