The paralleled prominence of master ink artists Zhang Daqian, who hailed from Sichuan province, and Pu Xinyu, who was born in Beijing, in the first half of 20th century China resulted in the wide acknowledgment of the duo as "Zhang from the South and Pu in the North".
The Masters, an exhibition now at Changsha Museum until April 18, juxtaposes early paintings of the two painters, calligraphers and collectors whose creativity still inspires people today.
Zhang's works on show give a review of his intensive studies of classical Chinese landscapes by great ancient painters. His figure paintings are known for being deeply influenced by the Dunhuang murals, while his flower-and-bird paintings retain the elegance of the art of the Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties.
Pu, once a royal member of the overturned Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), was nourished by classical art in his family collection since childhood. The extensive exposure allowed him to cultivate a great taste and techniques of refinement. His paintings often construct a world of scholarly grace, serenity and sometimes desolation.
