Wang Chen

1720-1797 Chinese

Mastered dry-brash Yuan landscape style

Wang Chen(王宸) (1720–1797), styled Zining and also called Zining, with the pseudonym Pengxin, was from Taicang, Jiangsu. He was the sixth-generation grandson of Wang Shimin and the great-grandson of Wang Yuanqi. In the 25th year of the Qianlong reign, he passed the provincial examination and eventually became the prefect of Yongzhou. Along with Wang Yu, Wang Jiu, and Wang Su, he was known as one of the "Little Four Wangs." He authored works such as "Huilin Faca" and "Pengxin Poetry Anthology." He was inspired to learn painting from his family early on. In his youth, he studied for the imperial exams and practiced imitating famous Song and Yuan masters. In middle age, he became an official, and his painting gradually matured. In his later years, he served in Yongzhou and, after retirement, made a living by selling paintings. His landscapes followed his family tradition, taking the Four Masters of the Yuan as his model, deeply mastering Huang Gongwang’s techniques, and skillfully using dry-brush heavy ink. His middle-aged style had a dryness in texture but retained a sense of moisture, while in his later years, his work had both dryness and elegance.

Artworks by this artist (22 total)