In front of us is a picturesque landscape of white mountains, water, clouds, trees, snow and ice. In the foreground, on a small island, the author has placed an image of tall snow-covered trees in colors ranging from white to gray. The trees are leaning towards the water under the weight of the snow. On the right, a deer and a fawn stand motionless on an ice floe. The smooth surface of the water reflects the sky. Mountains of white and dark colors are visible in the distance. Vertical right are hieroglyphs and the artist’s seal. There is another seal in the left corner.
Yu Zhixue’s paintings on the winter theme occupy a special place in the genre of landscape painting in the Shan Shui style, being truly unique works. The striking views in these paintings and the unique author’s style indicate that Chinese painting is developing a new type of art. It begins to speak in a completely different language, reaching the unknowable heights, since the centuries-old tradition did not allow depicting snow and ice.
Yu Zhixue is the founder of “ice and snow” landscape painting, a member of the Council of the Chinese Society of Artists, and a researcher at the Institute of Artistic Creativity at the Chinese Art Research Institute. After nearly forty years of practice and various experiences, Zhixue created a new style based on traditional painting, which is characterized by a completely different approach to already existing ink painting techniques. He fits all aesthetic ideas, becoming, perhaps, the most striking representative of the snow-covered landscapes’ school. Yu Zhixue created his own language and a special set of techniques.
Snowy landscapes with the affinity of icy beauty stand out from the vast array of Chinese painting trends. The school of this master, combining a unique perception of traditions and borrowing European experience, united many artists who created several pavilions and parks of ‘ice and snow’ in the country.
The founder himself was born in northern China, in the Heilongjiang province, so winter views became a constant source of inspiration for him. To truly understand the beauty of the world and fully enjoy the versatility of the northern sceneries with their endless plains, ice-covered trees and lakes, Yu traveled almost the entire world. He admitted that watching the wonders of nature, he felt the breath of history.
The scroll painting was donated to the Amur Regional Museum of Local Lore in January 2009 by Mr. Yu Zhixue after the exhibition ‘Ice and Snow’ was held in the museum, in which the works of Chinese artists performed in ink on rice paper were displayed.
Yu Zhixue’s paintings on the winter theme occupy a special place in the genre of landscape painting in the Shan Shui style, being truly unique works. The striking views in these paintings and the unique author’s style indicate that Chinese painting is developing a new type of art. It begins to speak in a completely different language, reaching the unknowable heights, since the centuries-old tradition did not allow depicting snow and ice.
Yu Zhixue is the founder of “ice and snow” landscape painting, a member of the Council of the Chinese Society of Artists, and a researcher at the Institute of Artistic Creativity at the Chinese Art Research Institute. After nearly forty years of practice and various experiences, Zhixue created a new style based on traditional painting, which is characterized by a completely different approach to already existing ink painting techniques. He fits all aesthetic ideas, becoming, perhaps, the most striking representative of the snow-covered landscapes’ school. Yu Zhixue created his own language and a special set of techniques.
Snowy landscapes with the affinity of icy beauty stand out from the vast array of Chinese painting trends. The school of this master, combining a unique perception of traditions and borrowing European experience, united many artists who created several pavilions and parks of ‘ice and snow’ in the country.
The founder himself was born in northern China, in the Heilongjiang province, so winter views became a constant source of inspiration for him. To truly understand the beauty of the world and fully enjoy the versatility of the northern sceneries with their endless plains, ice-covered trees and lakes, Yu traveled almost the entire world. He admitted that watching the wonders of nature, he felt the breath of history.
The scroll painting was donated to the Amur Regional Museum of Local Lore in January 2009 by Mr. Yu Zhixue after the exhibition ‘Ice and Snow’ was held in the museum, in which the works of Chinese artists performed in ink on rice paper were displayed.
