Remaining Ideas of Dong and Ju《董巨遗意图轴》

Yun Xiang (1586-1655), a renowned artist, poet, and writer of ancient prose, was also a master of landscape painting. Known by several names such as Benchu, Daosheng, Shuchen, Xiangshan, and Xiangshan Weng, he hailed from Wujin, presently known as Changzhou in Jiangsu Province.

One of his notable works, “Dong Beiyuan is of the Mei Taoist school, which is dense and unfamiliar,” was created in 1632 during the fifth year of Chongzhen. This painting ingeniously combines the halo ink dyeing technique of Dong and Ju Shui with the dry brush and rubbing method of the Yuan Dynasty. This fusion of techniques seamlessly blends the brush’s interest with the ink’s rhyme, using dry and wet methods interchangeably to create a vast and elegant charm.

The painting is a testament to Yun Xiang’s ambition and was crafted after the Mid-Autumn Festival of Renshen. He was the brother of Ziyushe, and his two seals are “Ben Chu” in Zhu and “Yun’s Daosheng” in white. This masterpiece is a creative amalgamation of ancient wisdom and natural beauty.

恽向（1586~1655），原名本初，后改今名，字道生，一字曙臣，号香山、香山翁，武进（今江苏常州）人。好诗歌及古文辞，善画山水，颇得雄浑之趣。

此画为崇祯五年（1632）所作。款题：“董北苑巨然梅道人一派，浓至之中自具生疏之致，近世画家不解此意，单求其密而不求其疏，毫厘千里矣。壬申中秋后为子羽社兄画因志之，恽向。”钤印二方“本初”朱文，“恽氏道生”白文。此图将董、巨水晕墨染的方法融入到元人干笔皴擦中，使元人重在笔趣而弱于墨韵的画法润泽化，干湿互用，达到苍茫秀润的韵致，是一幅师古人与师造化创造性结合的绘画精品。