MOUNTAIN AND LAKE

Chiang Chao-Shen was a 20th century master of traditional landscape paintings, one who both carried the torch from the maestros of the past while also bringing the art form to new realms. What's more, he was also accomplished in other forms of artistic expression, such as poetry, calligraphy, painting, and printmaking. A model scholar who excelled at researching art history, he studied diligently every chance he had, at every stage of his life. He was steeped in traditional humanistic studies, which served him well in his landscape paintings. His vast base of knowledge and pioneering vision opened a new chapter for the stagnating ink wash medium.

The horizontal landscape Mountain and Lake is a masterpiece painted after Chiang Chao-Shen retired from his position at the National Palace Museum and began a life of seclusion in 1991. In 1990, Chiang Chao-Shen suffered a sudden myocardial infarction while he was serving as deputy director of the National Palace Museum. The critical illness reminded him of the creative goals he had yet to fulfill, prompting his desire to move to the countryside. He bought land and built a house by Liyu Lake in Puli Township, Nantou County, and taking inspiration from a quote in Book XIV of The Analects: Act according to the circumstance, he named his studio Jie She-yuan, and moved in right after his retirement in 1991. Mountain and Lake and Autumn Scenery, with the auction Lot.312, were both masterpieces painted that very winter.

Compared to the fresh autumn atmosphere of Autumn Scenery, Mountain and Lake has more of a water theme. Amidst the clouds and mist, the towering mountain became very mystical. However, the slopes of the mountain do not appear steady or approachable. Majestic mountaintops stand proud and tall, each with steep, dangerous slopes covered by lush forests. In the forefront, the tall trees on the balcony are tall and straight, or slender and elegant, each with different characteristics. A house peeks out through the trees, exuding extraordinary flair. In the center, mountains stand tall, surrounded by clouds and mist. A waterfall tumbles down like white fabric, elegant and refined. In the distance, mountain tops form wild lines, grand and bright, showing the artist's grand spirit. The construction and layers of the painting is clear and complete. The artist used fluid brush strokes to depict a grand atmosphere, while certain places are left blank to add a mystic air to the towering mountains. The painting both retains the majestic style of the Northern Song Dynasty, while also being graceful, elegant, and self-assured.

Or perhaps Chiang Chao-Shen was simply born with a literati's soul. In his youth, Chiang Chao-Shen was not an intelligent child by today's standards. At age 7, he began homeschooling because he was unable to fit in at school. He later returned to school in the fourth grade, but had to quit school again after his father's business failed. Chiang Chao-Shen was born into a scholarly family, which meant many guests that frequented his home were academics, even though his father was a business owner. Chiang Chao-Shen learned from these scholars, and his talent was praised by his elders, who often brought him along to literati gatherings, or to meet famed scholars. Around the age of 10 he began helping his family by carving seal stamps, copying books, or engraving monuments. Though his family's financial troubles forced Chiang Chao-Shen to find a job quickly, swamping him with work, he never gave up learning, always seeking to better himself in fields such as poetry, calligraphy, painting, and printmaking. When he was 25 years old, Chiang Chao-Shen moved to Taiwan due to the war. A year later, he began studying poetry under Pu Xinyu, whom he greatly respected. He once wrote in his book Notes Along Two Rivers that Pu Xinyu once said, Being a good person comes first, studying comes second, painting is just a hobby, and we shouldn't give up on the former two to pursue it. I never learned how to paint from a teacher. If you can write calligraphy well, and write good poems, painting is not hard at all. Following his mentor's teachings, Chiang Chao-Shen studied diligently and focused on research. His knowledge would eventually be displayed in his landscapes. His achievements and status is as art researcher Ba Dong said, Chiang Chao-Shen's artistic style began with his riveting, clear brush strokes. His style later evolved into more subtle brush strokes, where the ink blends with objects in the paintings. Part of him carried the torch of ink wash paintings, the other part developed it further. This is definitely not due to him stagnating in the same artistic medium, but the result of change that came with time, and the new life artists give to this medium. (Dong, Ba Knowing Always that Truth is in Details - The evolution of Chiang Chao-Shen's Artistic Style) Han Mo Vol. 35, Han Mo Xuan Publishing, 1992, p40.)