A brush with history

He Jiaying, a noted figure painter, ushers the fine style of "court lady" painting into the context of modern life.

His work A Break During Dance, painted on silk, retains the elegance and tranquility of shinyu tu, a classical style gongbi painting depicting women from a well-to-do background. Whereas, at the same time, its depiction of three ballerinas is reminiscent of the work of French impressionist Edgar Degas.

He says that, for years, the National Exhibition of Chinese Hue Art "has given a boost to the creation of quality gongbi paintings and a scene even more dynamic and diverse", but he also finds some works "rather wanting in technique and taste".

His style has been a subject of study and imitation among gongbi painters, but he says that one should dig deeper into the heart of Chinese painting if aspiring to be distinctive.