Chinese paintings are usually done with ink on rice paper. Zen Buddhism has great influence on Chinese painting. The nature’s colours are expressed through shades of black ink monochrome. In modern times, watercolours are widely used to make the paintings more attractive.
There are usually empty spaces or voids in the composition. Western paintings always have more complicated compositions. The background of paintings are always coloured.
In Chinese painting, not too much colours are used; the compositions are always simple. The quality of lines show how good the drawings or paintings are as people regard Chinese painting as an extension of Chinese Calligraphy.
A poem or a few words are commonly written on the paper to complement the paintings.
The following are examples of some very good Chinese paintings about fruits.
Yun Shouping 惲壽平 (Yun Nantian) (1633 – 1690), Grapes, ink and watercolour on paper
Xie Zhiliu 謝稚柳 (1910 – 1997) Grapes with leaves, ink and watercolour on paper
Dīng Pù zhī 丁鋪之, Grapes, ink and watercolour on paper
Qi Baishi 齊白石 (1864 – 1957), Cherries, ink and watercolour on paper
Qi Baishi 齊白石 (1864 – 1957), Cherries on a Plate, ink and watercolour on paper
Chen Chun 陳淳 (1483 – 1544), Lychee, ink and watercolour on paper
Dīng Pù zhī 丁鋪之, Bananas, ink and watercolour on paper
Lù Yì fēi 陸抑非 (1908 – 1997), Rock melon, Lotus fruits and Water caltrop(菱角), ink and watercolour on paper
Dīng Pù zhī 丁鋪之, Watermelon and Mango, ink and watercolour on paper
Jin Nong 金農 (1687- 1687), Two Slices of Watermelon, ink and watercolour on paper
Lù Yì fēi 陸抑非 (1908 – 1997), Apples, ink and watercolour on paper
Xū Gǔ 虛谷 (1824 – 1896), Green Peaches, ink and watercolour on paper
Qi Baishi 齊白石 (1864 – 1957), Peaches in Basket, ink and watercolour on paper
Qi Baishi 齊白石 (1864 – 1957), Peaches in Basket, ink and watercolour on paper
Western Fruit Paintings
Juan de Espinosa, active in mid-17th Century, Still Life with Grapes, oil on canvas, 83 x 62 cm, the Louvre
Henri Fantin-Latour, Flowers and Fruits, 1865, 64 x 57 cm, Musee D’Orsay
Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin (1699 – 1779) The Silver Goblet, 1769? , oil on canvas, 33 x 41 cm, The Louvre
Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin (1699 – 1779), 1869, Pears, Walnuts and a Glass of Wine, 1769 ?, oil on canvas, 33 x 41 cm, The Louvre
Melendz, Still life with Figs, oil on canvas, 37 x 49 cm, The Louvre
Paul Cézanne (1839 – 1906), Fruit, ca 1879-80, oil on canvas, 45 x 54 cm, The Hermitage
Paul Cézanne (1839 – 1906), Still life with Curtain, ca 1899, oil on canvas, 54.7 x 74 cm, The Hermitage
Édouard Manet (1832 -1883), Still Life: Fruit on Table, 1864, 45 x 73.5 cm, Musee D’Orsay
Édouard Manet (1832 -1883), A Bar at the Folies-Bergere (lower left portion), 1881- 82, oil on canvas, 96 x 130 cm, Courtauld Institute Galleries, LondonEugène Henri Paul Gauguin (1848 – 1903), The Meal (The Bananas), 1891, 73 x 92 cm, Musee D’OrsayÉdouard Manet (1832 -1883), Still Life: Fruit on Table, 1864, 45 x 73.5 cm, Musee D’Orsay
Henri-Émile-Benoît Matisse (1869 – 1954), Dishes and fruit on a red and black carpet, 1906, oil on canvas, 61 x 74 cm, the HermitageHenri-Émile-Benoît Matisse (1869 – 1954), Fruit, flowers and panel ‘the Dance’, 1909, oil on canvas, 89 x 116 cm, the HermitageGiovanni Boldini (1842 – 1931) , The Melon, ca 1905, 36.5 x 60 cm, Musee D’Orsay
Jean Joveneau (1888 – ?), Still life with a mirror, 1912, oil on canvas, 92 x 74 cm, The Hermitage
Bibliography :
陳相鋒 陳姿娟 (2012) 画室必備 – 中國画技法圖典 蔬果篇 湖北美術出版社
Gowing, Lawrence (1987), Paintings in the Louvre, Stewart, Tabori & Chang ISBN 1-55670-007-5
Rosenblum, Robert (1989) Paintings in The Musee D’Orsay, Stewart, Tabori & Chang ISBN 1-55670-099-7
French Painting from the Hermitage, Leningrad, Mid-19th to early 20th Century(1987), Aurora Art Publishers.
Patrick Siu Chinese Calligraphy & Landscape Painting 蕭燿漢談書畫 