A brush with history

Vibrant colors and themes reflected in classical artwork at gongbi exhibition, Lin Qi reports.

Classical ink paintings that are rendered using the long-standing gongbi technique have always been a favorite at art shows. This particular technique demands meticulous and precise brushwork, and its rich colors often enhance a feeling of elegance and being highly narrative.

The employment of fine gongbi technique can be found in some of the best-known artworks in Chinese history, such as Court Ladies Wearing Floral Headwear, attributed to the 8th-century painter Zhou Fang, and Along the River During the Qingming Festival by Zhang Zeduan of the Song Dynasty (960-1279).

Modern masters like Qi Baishi are also noted for utilizing the technique to depict, in vivid detail, small insects and feathered animals.