The Culture THE CHINESE PREFERENCE FOR CURVED LINES What ancient Chinese art might have looked like or what form it took is a bit of a mystery, but it is agreed on that the Song (Sung) dynasty (A.D.960-1279) was the classic period of Chinese painting. A type of perfection in line painting was reached during that period. The line paintings influenced Chinese art from that point onward. These Eastern artists preferred curves. “When a Chinese artist had to represent a prancing horse, he seemed to fit it together out of a number of rounded shapes” (112 Gombrich). The beauty of a landscape, a draped figure, or an animal could be shown in lines that twist, turn, and flow in perfectly spaced rhythms, giving a sense of movement to the whole picture. The art is never overworked. Each mark is executed with freshness and exactness. The Chinese artist sacrifices particular details. He uses line to simplify the complex forms found in nature. A work consisting of curved lines sets the viewer at ease. It is not difficult to understand why Chinese artists choose curves as the form that describes beauty.
The Art CUT-PAPER ART FORM
Chinese paper cutting has existed as a form of art for thousands of years. The invention of paper originated in China. Chinese legend tells that the new invention of paper was presented to the Emperor in the year 105 AD. The use of paper in Arabic nations and later European nations would not happen for another 700 years. Chinese nobles in royal palaces used paper cut designs for entertainment. Men could cut the elaborate designs freehand with a sharp scissors. From the 7th to 13th century, paper cutting became popular for decorating festivals. In the rural countryside of mainland China, girls were expected to gain the skill before marriage and display their skills to the family members of the suitor. Professional paper cutters also exist in China and worked in shops. The Chinese also made folded paper forms in the first and second centuries. These forms were introduced to Japan in the sixth century and are now referred to by their Japanese name, origami. Origami forms of animals, birds, cups, and designs are folded from small pieces of square paper. Paper plays an important role in Chinese arts.
The Challenge
Study how the artist used both line and filled in shapes to create the asymmetrical design in the landscape on the previous page. With pencil, draw an asymmetrical landscape of your own. Decide which parts will remain line and which part s will be filled in. Once the design is created in pencil and reworked until you like it, then use ink and brush to make a bold black design.
62
Made with FlippingBook interactive PDF creator