P4 Early Spring
Kuo Hsi (eleventh century) was a native of Wen-hsien, Honan
province. His style name was Shun-fu (Ch'un-fu). He was a follower of Li Ch'eng, but while
the latter had a perfect command of expressions in light ink, Kuo Hsi placed importance on
the expression of space incorporating the atmosphere as well as light and darkness, thus
completing a more idealized state. This painting, in which preeminent talent is inferred
from the profound and exquisite brushstrokes, is an outstanding masterpiece of Northern
Sung painting along with Fan K'uan's "Travellers among Mountains and Streams."
¡@