Wang Wei's "Snow Village Light Snow Map" Study

Wang Shen was one of the most important artists in Northern Song Dynasty.As an imperial relative,he had the talent in both literature and art.At the same time,he was also a friend of Su Shi,who was the leader of literates and the founder of the theory of Literati Painting.Wang Shen's paintings were widely welcomed by literates at that time.But in the appraisal system of “the theory of South and North Sects” that was developed in the late Ming Dynasty,Wang Shen's identify is awkward.Although he painted literati scene mainly,his painting skill,which was inherit from Tang Dynasty's Li Zhaodao,was classed as North school's problematic skill.That is the reason why sometimes he was treated as a painter of “North Sect” while sometimes he was treated as a painter of“South Sect”.Now,one may ask if his painting can be attributed as literati painting?From my perspective,to find the answer from Wang Shen's art work is the best way to find the answer of the question.And the best way to know an art work is to study the making and looking of it.Therefore,in the beginning,I will study the basic theory of early Literati Painting,which to clarify the real historical status.And according to this study,one may understand the literates' aesthetic attitude a in Wang Shen's time.Secondly,by study the transformation of forms in Chinese landscape painting and tools before Wang Shen's time,one may know what forms or material may Wang Shen can master and utilize in his painting.Finally,by study the only reliable Wang Shen's painting,Fishing Village and Spit,one may understand its art idea.For this task,I will focus on the painting's making and looking.To compare art idea of Fishing Village and Spit with early Literati Painting's theory at last,one can understand the unique significance of Wang Shen and his Painting in the history of literati painting history.