Li Liufang

1575-1629 Chinese

Pintor y poeta letrado Ming

Li Liufang(李流芳) (1575–1629), courtesy name Changheng(长蘅), art names Tanyuan(檀园) and Shenyu Jushi(慎娱居士), was originally from She County, Anhui, later living in Jiading, Suzhou (now part of Shanghai). He became a provincial graduate in the 34th year of the Wanli reign. Li was a poet, painter, calligrapher, and seal carver of the Ming dynasty, and together with Cheng Jiasui, Tang Shisheng, and Lou Jian, he was known as one of the 'Four Masters of Jiading(嘉定四先生).' He wrote works such as the "Tanyuan Collection" and "Inscriptions and Appraisals on the West Lake Reclining Tour." In his early years, Li pursued the imperial examinations. After passing the provincial exam in 1606, he failed the national exams several times. In the 2nd year of the Tianqi reign (1622), he gave up his official career due to difficulties in the metropolitan exams and returned home to build Tanyuan and live in seclusion. His poetry and essays emphasized expressing inner feelings, with a natural and easygoing style. His calligraphy followed Su Shi, featuring lean and strong strokes. His landscape paintings combined techniques from the Song and Yuan dynasties, focused on life drawing, with representative works like "Ten Scenes of Wuzhong" depicting actual scenery. In seal carving, he followed the Wen Peng school, with his works featured in "A Collection of Chinese Leisure Seals." In his later years, he was known alongside Dong Qichang and others as one of the 'Nine Friends in Painting.' He passed away from illness in Tanyuan in the 2nd year of the Chongzhen reign (1629).