The reason why Zheng Banqiao particularly likes to paint orchids, bamboos and rocks is that the bamboos, orchids and rocks are originally very artistic. Coupled with poetry and calligraphy, it gives the painting a soul. When paired with his seal cutting, it makes it even more artistic. The paintings are magnificent.
Zheng Banqiao (November 22, 1693 - January 22, 1766), formerly known as Zheng Xie, also named Kerou, Haoli'an, also known as Banqiao, known as Mr. Banqiao, was a native of Xinghua, Jiangsu , native of Suzhou. Calligraphers, painters, and writers of the Qing Dynasty. He was a scholar of Kangxi, a scholar in the tenth year of Yongzheng, and a Jinshi in the first year of Qianlong (1736).
He was the magistrate of Fan County and Weixian County in Shandong Province. He had outstanding political achievements. He later lived in Yangzhou and made a living by selling paintings. He was an important representative of the "Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou". Zheng Banqiao is good at painting orchids, bamboos, stones, pine, chrysanthemums, etc., and he has made the most outstanding achievements in painting orchids and bamboos for more than 50 years. The method was borrowed from Xu Wei, Shi Tao, and the Eight Great Masters, and became its own method, with a sparse appearance and a strong style.
Gong calligraphy uses Han Bafen mixed with regular script and calls itself Six and a Half Fen calligraphy. And integrate calligraphy into painting. He advocated inheriting the tradition and learning seven out of ten, discarding three, not adhering to ancient methods, and paying attention to the originality of art and the diversity of styles. The saying is that before painting, do not establish a frame, and after painting, do not leave a frame, which still has reference for today. significance.
The poems are sincere and interesting, and are loved by the people. It can also cure seals. His poetry, calligraphy and painting are known as the "Three Wonders" in the world. He is a relatively representative literati painter in the Qing Dynasty. His representative works include "Building Bamboos and New Bamboos", "Clear Lights", "Orchid and Bamboo Fragrance", "Gan Valley and Chrysanthemum Spring", "Crossing Orchids and Thorns", etc. He is the author of "Collection of Zheng Banqiao".