Early Qing Dynasty Art: 1644-1773

The early Qing Dynasty, ruled by the emperors Kangxi (1662-1722) and Qianlong (1736-1795), was a time of expansion in art.

There were three distinct and important styles which dominated Qing Art:

Traditionalism

Traditionalist artists of the Qing used old methods of Chinese art as inspiration to create new and modern pieces. These artists were often referred to as "the Orthodox School" because of their dedication to tradition. Artwork done by traditionalists would often include replicas of earlier art.

Wang Hui & Wang Shimin (1674&1677)

Wang Shimin (1666)

Important Artists: Wang Shimin and Wang Jian were the senior members of the Orthodox School who taught one of the most popular traditionalist artists of the Qing, Wan Hui, who incorporated many styles of art from past Chinese dynasties. 

Individualism

Individualist artists created art to pay homage to the fallen Ming dynasty and expressed their opinions of the new Qing dynasty. Many were Buddhist monks, who isolated themselves from society. They not only used paintings but also calligraphy and writings to communicate their discontent with the new dynasty. Nanjing, the former Ming capital, became a sanctuary for individualist artists.

 

Gong Xian (1697)

Important Artists: Gong Xian used ink dots of varying density and darkness to show texture and differences in distance and mass. 

Professionals
The professional painters of the Qing dynasty were often "commercial and court artists who often "specialized in large scale decorative works" that often adorned parts of the dynasty.

http://www.learn.columbia.edu/nanxuntu/html/art/

Portrait of an Imperial Bodyguard Zhanyinbao (Unknown artist, 1760)

Zhu Da (1699)

Important Artists: Descendants of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Da and Zhu Ruoji became important figures of Qing professional art.

Styles & Approaches

• Personal Expression as greater than Realism
• Personal expression as the highest form of art
• Art should not imitate external beauty but reflect internal beauty  http://www.learn.columbia.edu/nanxuntu/html/art/
• Poetry on Artwork
• Painters were invited to add to a painting of the past by adding their own poem or detail to its surface. This interesting characteristic was not only allowed but encouraged by later painters and commenters.

Wooded Mountains at Dusk (1666)
Continuity of a painting

• Expression of Space
• Illusion of receding space
• Movement within the image

 Huang Gongwang

• The unrolling of the scroll was important as it allowed to the viewer to control how much of the image to view at one time. This creates a constant shift of central focus and space.

http://www.learn.columbia.edu/nanxuntu/html/art/

http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/east-asian-art/qing-dynasty.htm

http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/qing_1/hd_qing_1.htm