Introduction to the Histories of Art 2 – G1

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[Response] Guo Xi’s Landscape Painting

Through this essay, we learn the way of looking and perceiving landscape paintings. He brings out the essence of landscape painting by guiding us on how we should view such paintings in terms of our mentality and eye movement, like if we view a painting with the heart of appreciating the nature, the artwork will be valuable to the beholder, otherwise, it will be hard to appreciate his works. Also, when viewing a painting, we should view from afar to take in the whole scenic environment depiction he has created. Through this, he wants the viewer to appreciate the mood and idea behind several elements he curated in his works.

Also, the essay highlights the individuality and persistence of Guo Xi which we can prominently when he lives in an era where calligraphy and poems are placed above paintings, but he persisted with what he wants ultimately and became a notable painter in the whole of China art history.

With this, I am deeply inspired by Guo Xi’s deep yet comprehensive ideology which can be seen from his more than meets the eye paintings. From mist that can represent deities or the unreachable to seasons that can relate to different moods, I can feel the profundity behind his concept and thinking and this is what I really looked up to.

Art History Proposal

Q4. Compare landscape painting by Guo Xi’s with woodblock print of Mt. Fuji by Hokusai. Consider the following in your discussion: patrons, producers, materials, production, function and meanings.

Claim

Both paintings are largely different in terms of purpose, medium used and painting styles.

Introduction (300 words)

  • Artist background
  • Summarise what I am going to talk about in my essay in terms of different factor

The assimilation of different art culture between different geographies has always been one of the difficulties faced by art historians and in fact, one of the absolute that most art historians have to go through during their studies. This is especially so when we analyse the art culture between ancient countries like China and Japan, where they are more than what meets the eye- they might be close in proximity and culture but contrary to common belief, they differ in an acute yet subtle way. The study of landscape paintings between China and Japan is crucial to art historians as they form the big pillar of ancient art in these countries and by analysing the two, we are able to dissect and gain an in-depth insight into the culture intertwine between the two. Talking about landscape paintings, we will inevitably think about the two greatest painters in the history of China and Japan, Guo Xi and Hokusai respectively.

Body ( 1000 words)

  • 2 Similarities: Drawing style and context
  • 3 Differences: Purpose, mediums and meaning

Conclusion (200 words)