Chinese Painting: Tradition & Innovation

The history, philosophy, techniques and appreciation of China's unique and enduring traditions of painting and calligraphy—water, ink and pigments applied to silk or rice paper with the writing brush. The first half of this course will provide an overview of major artists and developments: early painting through Northern Song and Southern Song masterpieces, the rise of wenrenhua (literati painting) and painting theory on through the Yuan and Ming dynasties to the individualist masters of the early Qing. In the final third of the course we will explore developments in the last century and a half with considerable attention given to innovations and trends emerging among traditionally trained contemporary Chinese artists working in this medium in China, Taiwan and elsewhere. 3 hrs. lect.