This picture shows a vertical shaft, a paper book and an ink pen, with a length of11.3cm and a width of 50.2cm.. Now it is collected in Shanghai Museum. I always think this picture has a very amazing feeling, doesn't it? The beauty of plum branches is so creative. Thick plum branches extend from the left to the center, and the nib is quietly recycled to the left. A light and smart pen tip is curved, stretching the pretty plum branches into the sky, connecting the sky with the cliff. What a cool plum blossom map.
The painter vividly shows the great artistic conception of plum blossom, which is not afraid of cold and noble in character, through the resolute plum branches and blooming plum blossoms. Looking closely at the blossoming plums on the twigs, it is also very delicate and affectionate. From the twig to the middle branch, and then to the gorgeous turn of the big branch, the magnificent landscape is in front of us. From the deep and determined branches of red plum, I deeply feel that this is the plum on the cliff, and this is also the plum in the ice and snow. The thick branches are mainly light ink, and the main branches are rendered with thick ink, which adds vitality and strength to the red plum branches. The treatment of dried plums and lateral branches in the painting also complement each other. For example, the right straight branch echoes the left branch, and the tip of the upper branch echoes the right middle branch. From this point of view, the structure and layout of plum blossoms are very reasonable. Small plum blossoms are dotted and thin, just like a string of crisp and beautiful notes, which instantly whirl on the cliff. I once thought of the plum blossom quatrain written by the poet Lu You, "Snow is like plum blossom, plum blossom is like snow, and it is amazing whether it is alike or not". The plum blossoms painted by the painter Wang, whether it is snow or not, are all dreamy. The picture structure is full, the blank space is moderate, and the main branches and plum blossoms form a strong contrast. China's plum blossom lines are full of strong artistic vitality, with appropriate ink color, coarse and fine, fine and beautiful, and smooth.
Wang (1686- 1759) was a famous painter in Qing dynasty. He is also a calligrapher and one of the famous "Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou". Wang's calligraphy is good, and painting plum blossoms is also dull. Especially drawing daffodils and plum blossoms is absolutely wonderful. Like Gao Xiang's plum blossom, his plum blossom is a stick figure, thin plum blossom and light ink style. At the age of 54, Wang was blind in his left eye and could draw plum blossoms in one eye. The white seal of "one eye at the tip of a flower" is a true portrayal of Wang Yisheng's love of art and painting plum blossoms. At the age of 67, he was completely blind and still wrote the word weeds, and he went to the point of "painting plums for rice". It is conceivable that this ancient painter's life is full of ups and downs. The king with plum blossoms in his heart, in his precious "Plum Blossom Map", every plum blossom is vividly portrayed, every branch is vigorous and powerful, and a plum blossom with appropriate pen and ink shows the painter's cold and aloof life temperament.
The plum blossom picture is immortal because of its unique poetic and painting realm and pen and ink interest. No matter the lush foliage and the sparse flowers, there is a sense of detachment and coldness. The painter ended up sighing, and blindness prevented him from continuing to create. He lived a lonely and poor life in his later years. Fortunately, his life is as light as plum blossoms. I remember his heroic spirit, which turned into plum blossom fragrance and went with the wind. Looking at the plum blossom map, I was deeply moved. Plum is a kind of plant with strong personality, and so are people. Just like the painter Wang Yisheng cherishes plum blossoms, the masterpieces left after his death will be unforgettable for a long time.