Xu Beihong is one of the top ten masters of modern Chinese painting – Xu Beihong’s Communication

The Bronze Statue of Xu Beihong
Xu Beihong (1895-1953), a Han Chinese, was originally named Xu Shoukang and later changed his name to “Beihong”. He was from Qiting Town, Yixing City, Jiangsu Province. Famous painter, art educator, and founder of modern Chinese art. I have studied Western painting in Europe and have been engaged in art education for a long time since returning home. I have taught at the Department of Art at National Central University, the School of Art at Beiping University, and the Beiping Art School. After the establishment of the People’s Republic of China, I served as the Dean of the Central Academy of Fine Arts. Proficient in figures, animals, flowers and birds, his traditional Chinese paintings are well integrated with colorful ink, especially famous for galloping horses. He is known as one of the top ten masters of modern Chinese painting, along with ten others such as Qi Baishi, Pan Tianshou, Zhang Daqian, Wu Hufan, and Liu Haisu.

Xu Beihong’s Traditional Chinese Painting – “The Painting of a Ladies”
1、 Roaming Shanghai, eloping with beauty
Xu Beihong came from a poor background. His father, Xu Dazhang, was a private school teacher who was skilled in poetry, literature, and calligraphy. His mother, Lu Shi, was a simple working woman. Xu Beihong studied poetry, literature, calligraphy, and painting with his father from a young age. At the age of 13, he traveled with his father to the countryside and made a living by selling paintings. When Xu Beihong was 17 years old, his parents married him. But he was dissatisfied with the marriage and ran away from home, and was later arrested by his father to get married. At the age of 18, giving birth to a child named “Jiesheng” means “born after being robbed”, and later died young. In 1913, Xu Beihong went to Shanghai alone and studied at the Shanghai Academy of Painting and Fine Arts. Upon arriving at the school, the newly established campus was empty. Principal Liu Haisu was only 17 years old and one year younger than himself. Other teachers were not as skilled as him, so he recognized it as a “chicken school” and left without saying goodbye after less than half a semester. Xu Beihong’s experience of studying at the Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts became the root of his lifelong grudges with Liu Haisu in the future.

徐悲鸿——自画素描

At the age of 20, Xu Beihong returned to Shanghai and, with the help of his friends, was admitted to the French Catholic Church’s hosted university, Zhendan University, laying the foundation for his future study abroad in France. During this time, he met the famous oil painter Zhou Xiang and the representative figures of the Lingnan School of Painting, Gao Qifeng and Gao Jianfu, and received their guidance and praise, enhancing his confidence in painting. He also met Kang Youwei, a leader of the reformist movement, and observed various ancient inscriptions on famous steles at Kang Youwei’s place. He devoted himself to copying works such as “Jingshiyu”, “Cuan Longyan Stele”, “Zhang Menglong Stele”, “Shimen Inscription”, etc., gaining a deep understanding of the essence of the Northern Stele and promoting calligraphy.

《奔马》

During his time in Shanghai, Xu Beihong also met Professor and fellow villager Jiang Meisheng from Fudan University, as well as his second daughter Jiang Tangzhen (later renamed Jiang Biwei). Xu Beihong was appreciated by the Jiang family for his outstanding artistic talent and often invited him as a guest. Xu Beihong fell in love with Jiang Tangzhen, who gradually fell in love with him. But Xu Beihong already had a family, and Jiang Tangzhen had a fianc é e at the age of 13. My cousin is the matchmaker, and my parents have arranged a marriage. The man is a close friend of the Jiang family, Cha Zihan, the son of Mr. Zha Liangcai from Suzhou, and is from a matching family. As the wedding date approached, Jiang Tangzhen’s heart was in turmoil, and Xu Beihong’s heart was also burning with anxiety.

《少女蒋碧薇》

In 1917, after receiving funding to study art in Tokyo, Japan, Xu Beihong brought his friend Zhu Zhizhou to deliver a message to Jiang Tangzhen, asking if she was willing to go abroad with him or elope with him. Jiang Tangzhen quickly agreed. Xu Beihong secretly took care of it and planned his elopement seamlessly, taking Jiang Tangzhen on a ship to Japan. After eloping to Japan, I was unfamiliar with the place and language, making life difficult. Xu Beihong studies his paintings all day long. He bought books and paintings, and the domestic funding for researching Japanese art quickly ran out. In less than half a year, the two had to return from Tokyo to Shanghai. Although elopement had caused great trouble for the Jiang family, the situation was settled and the Jiang family generously accepted them. They can finally be together openly and honestly.

徐悲鸿国画——《雄鸡图》

Two, study in Europe, improve traditional Chinese painting

从日本归国后，徐悲鸿受聘为北京大学“画法研究会”导师。在京期间，结识了蔡元培、陈师曾、梅兰芳及鲁迅等各界名人，深受新文化运动思潮的影响，树立了民主与科学的进步思想。1919年3月，在北洋政府的资助下，24岁的徐悲鸿携夫人蒋碧薇赴法留学，观摩了大量文艺复兴时期的优秀作品。徐悲鸿感到自己过去所作的中国画是“体物不精而手放佚，动不中绳，如无缰之马难以控制”。他刻苦钻研画学，并考入巴黎美术学校，受教于弗拉芒格先生，开始接受正规的西方绘画教育。

徐悲鸿油画——《蜜月》

弗拉芒格擅长于历史题材的人物画，其画作不尚细节的刻画而注重色彩的和谐搭配与互衬，对徐悲鸿日后油画风格的形成有着巨大的影响。此期间他有幸结识了著名画家柯罗的弟子艺术大师达仰，每星期日携画到达仰画室求教。达仰“勿慕时尚，毋甘小就”及注重默画的艺术思想对他启发较大，使得他没有追随当时法国日渐兴盛的现代派画风，而是踏踏实实地钻研欧洲文艺复兴以来的学院派艺术，在继承古典艺术严谨完美的造型特点的同时，掌握了娴熟的绘画技巧。

徐悲鸿油画——《吹箫的女孩》

留学4年之后，徐悲鸿的绘画水平已达到可与欧洲同时期的艺术家相媲美的地步，其油画作品《老妇》入选法国国家美术展览会（沙龙）。由于北洋政府一度中断学费，巴黎美术学校毕业后，徐悲鸿被迫转至消费水平较低的德国柏林，求教于画家康普。他经常到博物馆临摹著名画家伦勃朗的画作，去动物园画狮子、老虎、马等各种动物，以提高自己的写生能力。长达8年的旅欧生涯，塑就了他一生的审美意趣、创作理念和艺术风格。

徐悲鸿油画——《田横五百壮士》

1928年，32岁的徐悲鸿学成归国，开始投身于国内美术教育工作，发展自己的艺术事业，实践自己一生为之努力的中国画改良的主张。早在1920年，他就发表的《中国画改良论》，这是他第一篇论述中国画改良的重要著作。文中提出“古法佳者守之，垂绝者继之，不佳者改之，未足者增之，西方画之可采入者融之”的著名主张。欧洲留学归来后，他参与了田汉、欧阳予倩组织的“南国社”，积极倡导“求美、求善之前先得求真”的“南国精神”。1929年2月，应南京中央大学的聘请任艺术系教授。他又发表《惑》《惑之不解》等文，明确倡导现实主义，认为“美术之大道，在追索自然”，强调国画改革融入西画技法，作画主张光线、造型，讲求对象的解剖结构、骨骼的准确把握。

《玉簪花》

In October of the same year, Xu Beihong was invited by the Art College of Peking University to serve as the dean of the college. At that time, the painting circle in Peking was dead and lifeless, and it was able to imitate the ancients. The conservative forces were quite stubborn. Qi Baishi, a carpenter born “Beipiao old man”, boldly innovated and changed his painting methods. He came out with his own red flower and ink leaves, but it was a sneer in Peking painting circle. Xu Beihong insisted that Chinese painting must be innovated and a model should be set up. He supported Qi Baishi and hired him as a professor of Art College of Peking University. When Xu Beihong came to Qijia by four wheel carriage, Qi Baishi was moved by his sincerity: “I am a carpenter with an axe in Xingtang old house. How dare I become a professor in an institution of higher learning?” Xu Beihong said: “Mr. Qi, I am just about to use your axe to cut down the dead branches and rotten wood in Peking painting world!”! One year later, Xu Beihong resigned and returned to Nanjing National Central University to teach.

《秋声秋色图》

Three, resentment in the painting world, marriage fission

In 1932, Xu Beihong and Liu Haisu, two ignorant teenagers who met in Shanghai art college, had become famous painters in China. In the autumn of this year, Liu Haisu, who returned from Europe, held a personal art exhibition in Shanghai. The new evening news featured many famous people’s articles, including one that said “famous painter Xu Beihong… Is his student.”. This time, Xu Beihong exploded. Immediately, he published the notice of Xu Beihong in the “Declaration”, flogging Shanghai Art College as a “pheasant school”, and reprimanding Liu Haisu as a “hooligan to the west, only learning to brag”.

黄山散花坞烟雨》

Liu Haisu was furious after reading it, and immediately published the Liu Haisu notice to satirize Xu Beihong’s pretentiousness. There were more people coming out of Shanghai art college, who are you? Xu Beihong continued to publish articles and taught Liu Haisu that painting should “wash the vulgar bone, get rid of arrogance, be kind-hearted and use hard work”, “I’ve been waiting for you for ten years, Xu Beihong, you’re not an opponent”! Who is Liu Haisu? At that time, because of the “model” disturbance of Shanghai art college, the warlord Sun Chuanfang was once killed by him. When he was about to fight Xu Beihong again, he was persuaded by Cai Yuanpei. Cai Yuanpei played an important role in Liu Haisu’s life and art. The reason why Liu Haisu became an art master later is inseparable from Cai Yuanpei’s support and support. But the two of Xu Beihong and Liu Haisu didn’t get along well with each other, and from then on, it was known to all the people in the world, and even later evolved into a dispute over painting schools.

刘海粟代表作——《黄山奇峰》

During this period, in addition to the resentment between Xu Beihong and Liu Haisu in the painting world, there was also a serious crisis in his marriage with Jiang Biwei. The cause is Xu Beihong’s love between teachers and students in Nanjing National Central University. He fell in love with Sun Duoci, a girl from the art department, and launched a crazy pursuit. Xu Beihong made two gold rings inlaid with red beans, with the words “merciful” and “merciful” embedded in their names. “Compassion love” triggered the fission of marriage between Xu Beihong and Jiang Biwei. After Jiang Biwei and her relatives and friends failed to persuade her, Jiang Biwei, who has always been strong, was not willing to be outdone. When Xu Beihong and Sun Duoci were hot, she also cheated and cheated on Zhang Daofan.

徐悲鸿素描——《少女孙多慈》

At the end of 1919, Zhang Daofan went to the UK. With his talent, he entered the Art Department of the University of London in 1921, becoming the first Chinese international student in the history of the Academy, and later entered the highest Academy of Fine Arts in Paris for further study. He and Xu Beihong met when they were studying in Europe. At that time, Zhang Daofan had fallen in love with Jiang Biwei at first sight and wrote many love letters. Only at that time, Jiang Biwei and Xu Beihong had a good relationship, so Jiang Biwei rejected Zhang Daofan. When Jiang Biwei came back to China to see Zhang Daofan, Zhang had abandoned painting and became Secretary General of the Nanjing municipal government. More importantly, although he has been married, he is still infatuated with Jiang Biwei. Love letters were written to Jiang Biwei one after another. Zhang Daofan was two years older than Jiang Biwei. At that time, he was more than more than 40 years old, but the words he could write were as hot as a teenager.

徐悲鸿油画——《孙多慈像》

Angry at the “compassionate love”, Jiang Biwei met with such a warm pursuit. Even in order to add to Xu Beihong’s block, she would also agree to Zhang Daofan’s pursuit. What’s more, Zhang Daofan paid a lot of attention to her and her two children. Once, they were attacked by Japanese air strikes. Zhang Daofan, regardless of his life and death, covered up Jiang Biwei, which made her very moved. So, Jiang Biwei calmly gave Xu Beihong a green hat and became Zhang Daofan’s public mistress. After the Kuomintang fled Taiwan, Jiang Biwei also went to Taiwan with Zhang Daofan, but she never married Zhang Daofan in her life. Later, Zhang Daofan gradually became the backbone of the CC system. From 1952 to 1,961, he served as the president of the Taiwan Legislative Yuan.

徐悲鸿油画——《奴隶与雄狮》

Four, join the Anti Japanese War and raise money for disaster relief

After the 918 incident, Japanese imperialism occupied Northeast China and established the puppet Manchuria state. Since then, it has successively made trouble in North China, Shanghai and other places, provoking wars. The Nationalist Government has adopted a compromise policy to avoid the expansion of conflicts, and actively sought international sympathy and support. In 1933, at the invitation of the French National Art Gallery, Xu Beihong went to Paris to hold a modern Chinese painting exhibition. He has traveled to Venice, Florence, Rome and other historical and cultural cities in Italy. He held 7 modern Chinese painting exhibitions in France, Belgium, Germany, Italy and the Soviet Union. 4 “modern Chinese art exhibition rooms” were established in European museums and universities, which attracted the general attention of various countries to modern Chinese painting, It vigorously promoted Chinese painting art and expanded China’s international influence.

徐悲鸿国画——《耄耋图》

After the July 7th incident, the national crisis was at the head. Xu Beihong moved to Chongqing with the National Central University. With his brush as a weapon, he actively participated in the Anti Japanese and national salvation struggle. At that time, the Japanese invaders occupied most of China, the territory was lost, and the life was ruined. Xu Beihong was very angry. In 1938, he created the wounded lion, which is a painting combining realism and romanticism. China, known as the Oriental “sleeping lion”, has become a wounded male lion. In a sad look, the wounded male lion was glaring and ready to fight. It contained strength and strength and expressed the author’s strong anti Japanese patriotic thought.

徐悲鸿国画——《负伤之狮》

In 1939, Xu Beihong held an exhibition of Anti Japanese relief in Singapore. He created the portrait of miss Jeanne, one of the most famous oil painting portraits of Xu Beihong, which was created when the charity sale was held in Nanyang. The woman in the picture, miss Jeanne, was born in Guangdong. She was a famous lady in Xingzhou at that time. She was elegant and elegant. The painting was sold for forty thousand new coins, which was the most planned one in the Nanyang collection in this period (the total was more than one hundred and eleven thousand new coins). In this period, he often painted the theme of the rooster, which gives people vitality and strength, and expresses the author’s ardent expectation for the rise and awakening of the Chinese nation.

徐悲鸿油画——《珍妮小姐画像》

In 1940, he created the traditional Chinese painting “Yugong moved the mountain” to show the Chinese nation’s unity and perseverance, and the belief in defeating the Japanese invaders. In the same year, at the invitation of Tagore, a famous poet in India, Xu Beihong went to India to hold an art exhibition to promote the Anti Japanese War and forged a deep friendship with Tagore. In 1941, he returned from India and continued to hold art exhibitions through Penang, Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur and other places. He donated nearly 100,000 US dollars from the sale of paintings in recent years to the Anti Japanese war.

徐悲鸿油画——《泰戈尔像》

In the autumn of 1,941, Xu Beihong created the picture of galloping horses, which was during the second Battle of Changsha. In this picture, Xu Beihong uses the full and bold black color to outline the horses, which has a strong visual impact and symbolizes the fighting spirit of the Anti Japanese soldiers. His galloping horse is more well-known in the world, almost becoming the “symbol” and “symbol” of “modern Chinese painting”.

徐悲鸿——《群马奔腾》

Five, reorganize the family and serve the society

In 1942, after pursuing sun Duoci and Jiang Biwei for many years, Xu Beihong, 47, met Liao Jingwen, 19. At that time, Xu Beihong was preparing for the establishment of The China Academy of Art in Panxi, Chongqing. Liao Jingwen used to study in the famous Zhounan girls middle school in Changsha. He likes chemistry and has excellent results. She could have continued to study, but because of the war, she missed the university enrollment time. It’s said that the The China Academy of Art in Chongqing was recruiting a librarian, and she applied for the job. The person interviewed was Xu Beihong. Liao Jingwen adores Xu Beihong, and Xu Beihong also falls in love with the young Liao Jingwen. They went for a walk and had a heart to heart talk. They soon got hot and considered engagement. Liao Jingwen’s father didn’t agree with the marriage. In addition to the big age gap between them, it was also because Xu Beihong had a difficult ex-wife.

On December 1, 1945, after more than 20 years of suffering, Xu Beihong and Jiang Biwei finally reached a settlement and signed a divorce agreement in Shapingba, Chongqing. Xu Beihong paid Jiang Biwei 1 million, 100 paintings, 50 ancient paintings, and twenty thousand children’s maintenance fee each month. After paying a high breakup fee, Xu Beihong married Liao Jingwen, who was 28 years younger. After marriage, Liao Jingwen took good care of Xu Beihong, who had suffered from serious hypertension and chronic nephritis, to create a warm family environment for him. At that time, Xu Beihong, who was 50 years old, was not less enthusiastic about creation, and had a son Xu Qingping and a daughter Xu Fangfang. He also drew many portraits for Liao Jingwen.

《廖静文像》

In January 1946, Xu Beihong served as the president of Peking art college, recruiting a group of talented progressive artists such as Wu Zuoren, Li Hua, Ye Qianyu and Feng Fa to teach. At the same time, he served as the honorary president of Beiping art workers association, and signed the cultural circles’ speech on the current situation drafted by Guo Moruo, advocating the abolition of the Kuomintang’s one party dictatorship. In 1948, he and his wife Liao Jingwen refused to move with the Kuomintang to the south, uniting all the teachers and students of Beiping art college to protect the school. With Wu Zuoren, Ai Zhongxin, Dong Xiwen, Feng FASI and others, the comprehensive art group “127 Art Society” was established to welcome the peaceful liberation of Beiping.

《多喜临门》

After the founding of new China, Xu Beihong was appointed president of the China Central Academy of Fine Arts. Attended the first world peace Defense Conference and the national literature and art workers’ Congress held in Prague, the capital of the former Republic of Czechoslovakia. He was elected a member of the national Federation of Literary and Art Circles, a standing member, a representative of the first CPPCC National Committee and a member of the Beijing Municipal People’s Political Consultative Conference. While serving as the government and administrative work, Xu Beihong continued to write and describe the new people, new things and new faces in the construction of new China with enthusiasm.

《九州无事乐耕耘》

Unfortunately, all these artistic activities stopped abruptly due to the early death of the painter. On September 26, 1,953, Xu Beihong died of cerebral hemorrhage due to hard work. He was 58 years old. Liao Jingwen complained about Jiang Biwei lion’s big mouth, “in order to pay off the debt, sad Hong was sick in painting day and night.” Jiang Biwei thought that it was an extramarital love that caused trouble and devastated him.

《一马绝尘》

After the death of Xu Beihong, Premier Zhou Enlai went to the hospital to condole and say goodbye to his remains. Xu Beihong left a large number of paintings in his life. According to Xu Beihong’s will, his wife, Ms. Liao Jingwen, donated more than 1,200 of his works, more than 1,200 works of famous calligraphers and painters in the Tang, song, yuan, Ming, Qing and modern times, and more than 1 million books, picture books and tablet stickers to the state.

《九方皋》