Subscribe to free Email Newsletter

Gu Kaizhi (346-407) was a famous Chinese painter of the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-320). His representative work,Luoshen Appraisal Painting,is now kept at thePalaceMuseuminBeijing.

The theme of theLuoshen Appraisal Paintingwas drawn from the articleLuoshen Appraisal, written by the famous writer of the Three Kingdoms (220-280) Cao Zhi, who was forced to part with his lover. The appraisal depicts Cao's encounter with the beautiful Goddess Luoshen atLuoshuiRiver. Cao expressed his nostalgia in the romantic story, and his feelings and the elegant image of Luoshen reappeared in the painting. TheLuoshen Appraisal Paintingseamlessly combines poetry and painting, demonstrating the high artistic level of the time. With 61 figures in all, the painting was divided into several sections. Gu emphasized the subjects' expressions; the stones, mountains and trees were added for ornamental purposes. Gu used the typical silk-thread line to draw the frames of the figures, which had a bright hue.

Several sections in the work depict the meeting between Cao and Goddess Luoshen atLuoshuiRiver. The picture vividly captures the jovial mood of their first encounter, and the sadness that ensued following their separation. With an original concept and heart-stirring scenes, the painting is considered a classic in Chinese painting history.