Landscape in the style of Huang Gongwang 1666 Wang Shimin Chinese This major work represents the culmination of Wang Shimins lifelong study of the paintings of Huang Gongwang (1269-1354). Reducing Huangs calligraphic style to a graphic formula—rock forms filled with straight, parallel, “hemp-fiber” texture strokes and layers of horizontal dots—Wang Shimin built his kinetic brush patterns into rising and falling, opening and closing, “breath-force” (qishi) movements. Individual texture strokes and foliage dots crisscross, multiplying and expanding until the entire composition turns into a great flowing pattern of undulating forces and counterforces that suggests natures boundless energy and growth.Wang Shimin was the eldest of the “Four Wangs”—the others being Wang Jian (1598-1677), Wang Hui (1632-1717), and Wang Yuanqi (1642-1715). They were the leaders of the Orthodox school of painting in the early Qing period. Listen to experts illuminate this artwork's story Listen Play or pause