When Shen Zhou was born, the Ming Empire experienced a series of shocks. At this time, the political situation became more and more stable, and Suzhou Xiangcheng, a water town, finally lost a sense of relief and calmness. From the family background, Shen Zhou's family belongs to the sequence of cultural gentry. Since his grandfather, he has paid attention to culture and education, a good learning atmosphere, and his talent and intelligence have made Shen Zhou's knowledge and demeanor increase day by day. Qian recorded in Biography of Poems in Past Dynasties: "Zhou, whose word is Qi Nan, is from Changzhou. Zu Mengyuan (Shen Cheng), his father Zhen Ji, and his father Henderson lived in seclusion. " He also vividly described the family style: "The prosperity of his family is not only the prosperity of special assets, but also the industry of poetry, painting, ceremony and music." In Yan's leisure time, father and son, grandparents and grandchildren get together to discuss the past and present, and their feelings are expressed in the form of poems, songs and harmony. "Good family and family background helped Shen Zhou develop a quiet and carefree character.
Wen Zhiming introduced it more vividly in The Behavior of Mr. Shen: "Mr. Shen is a man, so be modest. Although there is a shrewd connotation, there are many external violence, and there has never been any embarrassment in treating people, but the truth cannot be made. " His teacher said that he was "so old and learned, he attacked and recited it." A few words profoundly summarized his important foundation as a painter. Since ancient times, he has adhered to the tradition, chanting has enhanced the richness of culture, and made his paintings contain poetry and Zen, thus injecting extraordinary artistic spirit into his paintings and making the next generation of painters highly respected by the "originator of Wu Pai". At the age of 28, Shen Zhou began his ordinary and great artistic life after explicitly refusing to recommend him as an official. The political knot of "learning to be an excellent official" is an insurmountable barrier for all intellectuals. However, Shen Zhou was relaxed and didn't care. Different from the high-pressure persecution of intellectuals in Zhu Yuanzhang's period, he was able to adhere to the principle that "Shen Shi is self-imposed and self-sustaining, and he does not like to make progress, and his descendants think that his family is the law".
Since then, he has been in a quiet heart, focusing on poetry creation and painting, and roaming freely in the self-built spiritual world. Most of his paintings are landscapes, and his love for natural landscapes is a humanistic tradition. His talent pocket has incorporated all the landscapes and ancient and modern images in the south of the Yangtze River into his own world of poetry and painting. Confidence in Wen Zhiming, there is no lack of envy. He said, "But inadvertently written, the images are all new and wonderful. Once you cut it, it's not good. " This natural tolerance depends on the profound academic foundation in his early years.
One year, I saw the exhibition "Ming Si Jia" in Suzhou Museum, especially Mr. Shen Zhou's works. My whole heart seemed to be washed by the clear water of culture, as if I were in it. Make a landscape map for the people in the sky. Very representative, it is said to be his earliest painting. Shen Zhou was 35 years old this year, so he had to be a late bloomer. Previously, Mr. Shen Zhou's greatest efforts were in poetry. His poems are as changeable as his personality. Qian said more specifically: "Young people imitate the Tang people, and sometimes they plan to get lucky. Later, they came from Zhaoling, Xiangshan, Meishan and Jiannan, frustrated and gloomy, and the article was outdated, so the author could finish it. " It is precisely because of this that his poems have made his paintings.
Poetry flooded into his paintings, writing the most distinctive landscape world of the next generation in one inch. Mr. Shen Zhou kept groping and creating, and finally, like a dragon, he wandered freely in the realm of his own paintings and refused to come out. After that, Mr. Shen Zhou began to learn from others, and brewed his own unique style with his own culture, gradually forming the initial form of "rough". After the age of 50, he devoted himself to calligraphy learning and devoted a lot of time to studying Huang Tingjian. Since then, his works, like wine, have become more and more mellow and handy, and gradually moved towards the realm of free-wheeling masters. Although he didn't join any political groups, he made countless friends and broadened his creative vision and artistic pattern.
The other three people listed as "Ming Sijia" with him are either his disciples or his junior. Has the appearance of a gentle old man, always carrying the banner of a master, not arrogant and impetuous. The warm fire of art licks the copper furnace of inspiration, and finally refines the elixir of art and saves the customs of the world.
Due to limited contact, among the works I can get in touch with, I still love the high map of Lushan Mountain. This year, Shen Zhou was forty-one years old. He wrote it for the 70th birthday of teacher Chen Sheng 'an, and expressed his admiration and gratitude to the teacher through the majesty of Lushan Mountain. This painting, with its large pattern, outstanding weather and wide collection, can make people feel the shocking spirit of his works. What is particularly commendable is that such a large pattern is set off by tiny images, which finally sets off the great spirit, capacity and infinite universe of Lushan Mountain. It is not only the mountains that are high, but the students' gratitude for the teacher's artistic inheritance and guidance.
A peaceful mind can often create great works, because without any desire, one can follow one's inclinations and reach the highest level. Like a white crane on a white cloud, it rushes up, like a dragon swimming in the sea, wantonly Wang Yang.
Last spring, I paid a visit to Mr. Shen Zhou's cemetery near Yangcheng Lake. I watched the mighty Yangcheng Lake water being blocked by waves for more than 500 years, which made future generations feel infinitely sad here. The real art lies in being able to guide the world with great humanistic care and pioneer. A work not only gives people enjoyment in beauty, but also sets an example in the meaning of life.
The fourth is filial piety. Wang Ao, his best friend, highly summarized his attitude towards his relatives: "Mr. Wang is like family, and his color cannot be violated." Mother Mrs. Zhang died at the age of 100. Mr. Zhang was over 80, but his children did not destroy the barren land, and then they prospered after the war. My brother is ill and stays with him all the year round. Helping orphans and nephews is a kind act. The word "all" perfectly sums up Mr. Shen Zhou's profound practice of filial piety. Looking for Mr. Shen Zhou means looking for a model that can improve our spiritual space and artistic sublimation, and looking for an old figure who has crossed the dust of history. Opening the scroll should be the most textured, anticipated and exciting action in the world. If you are not careful, you will encounter the most beautiful artistic scene in thousands of years. Many of Mr. Shen Zhou's works can really give people such aesthetic enjoyment.
Mr. Shen Zhou spent his life quietly in Xiangcheng. The mountains and rivers in his heart, flowers and birds fly freely, stand in front of history with pen and ink, and spray the mountains and rivers in Suzhou with pen and ink under self-construction, spanning hundreds of years. When people are fighting for his works, perhaps they never thought that this great artist has been pitching history with the coolest attitude, and those works will always have a body temperature. It has truly become an unstoppable mountain, inexhaustible water and inexhaustible birds, and those ink paintings have finally integrated into the core of Chinese civilization, allowing the humanities and arts in Jiangnan to walk in the forefront with a gentle attitude and continue to move forward with cultural confidence.