The person who thinks he can compete with Qi Baishi is Kang Sheng. His real name is Zhang Zongke, and he was born in a noble family in Jiaonan County. Influenced by family culture since childhood, I have a deep study of traditional culture and am very good at calligraphy and painting. Later, he was admitted to Lixian Middle School in Qingdao for further study. After graduation, he returned to his hometown to teach. It was during this period that he came into contact with Marxism and joined the Producers' Party of China. As an early leader of the * * * production party, he took part in three uprisings organized by Shanghai and served as secretary of district committees in many places. 1934 was elected as a member of the central Committee, enjoying a high reputation within the party and making great contributions to the production of our country.
At the same time, Kang Sheng also has profound attainments in the field of calligraphy and painting. He is so confident in his calligraphy that he can even write plum blossom seal script with his left and right hands at the same time. Kang Sheng thinks that his calligraphy is far superior to Guo Moruo's. In the field of painting, he also refused to accept Qi Baishi, so he gave himself a pen name "Lu Chishui" and wanted to compete with Qi Baishi.
1962, Beijing Evening News published a painting called Lotus, which shocked the whole painting and calligraphy circle. Some people even think that if you don't look at the inscription, this painting may make people think that it is the original work of Badashan people in the Ming Dynasty. Although his paintings of Mo Lian are only a few strokes, they fully express the artistic conception of the budding lotus flower. It is said that Guo Moruo also appreciates this painting and says that he has no such level at all.
We all know that Qi Baishi is good at drawing shrimps. In order to better describe the shape of shrimp, he keeps many shrimps at home and observes them every day. Finally, the shrimp he painted is even more lifelike, as if to jump out of the painting. In fact, Qi Baishi's painting of lotus flowers is also quite successful, highlighting the artistic conception of lotus flowers. However, some people think that Qi Baishi's lotus lacks a fresh breath, while Kang Sheng's lotus is more realistic and vivid. For outsiders to compare themselves with others, the old man Qi Baishi certainly just laughed it off. Because he pursues peace of mind in his own life, not fighting with others is his criterion for being a man.
Kang Sheng thinks that his calligraphy is far better than Guo Moruo's and his paintings are comparable to Qi Baishi's. Where does his confidence come from? In fact, Kang Sheng's profound accomplishments in the field of calligraphy and painting are partly due to the influence of his family. Because the elders in the family collected a lot of precious calligraphy and painting, Kang Sheng practiced on the original works of these ancients since childhood, which not only improved his memory, but also broadened his horizons and cultivated an extraordinary artistic level. Later, when he took part in the revolutionary work in Shanghai, he disguised himself as the owner of an art photo studio and met many people in the art world. He usually practices calligraphy at home when he is free. Even if he is busy at work later, he has not left his calligraphy and painting skills behind. Over time, there will be unparalleled attainments in painting and calligraphy.
Of course, there is no specific evaluation standard for these artworks. More people have different opinions, and we can't say who is better. However, compared with Qi Baishi's mind of not contending with others, Kang Sheng may be somewhat inferior.