Zhu Bang
Bold Ming landscapes with fluid ink
Zhu Bang(朱邦), courtesy names Zhengzhi(正之) and Jinzhi(近之), also known by the pseudonyms Jiulong Shanqiao(九龍山樵), Yinsou(隱叟), Hanhou Daoren(酣齁道人), and Fengxi Yuyin(豐溪漁隱), was from Xin’an (present-day She County, Anhui). He was a late Ming dynasty painter of the Zhejiang school, known alongside Zhang Lu, Zheng Dianxian, and Wang Zhaoqi. His landscapes and figure paintings feature quick, free brushwork with bold, fluid ink, showcasing a vigorous style that blends techniques from the Song and Yuan dynasties. One of his representative works, 'Fengxi Yuyin Tu,' is done in color on silk and depicts a snowy winter river scene. He used the small axe-cut method for rocks and crab-claw trees, with a clear sense of layering in the composition—darker ink for the detailed foreground and lighter colors in the background to evoke the snowy atmosphere. Another work, the 'Wang Palace Scroll,' is now in the British Museum. It portrays a portrait of Kuai Xiang and scenes at the Chengtian Gate, reflecting the style of Ming dynasty portrait painting. Many of his paintings depict everyday life, like fishermen at work and market scenes, with well-proportioned figures and lively, vivid depictions of the environment.