Featured Artist in Collection

Yun Shouping was a prominent Chinese painter and calligrapher of the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties who expressed art without the use of linear elements to rigidly define forms and space, choosing instead to express the inner vitality and spirit of his subjects. He was unafraid of using strong colors, such as reds and purples, which had traditionally been avoided and even considered offensive by Chinese artists. He recreated the ”Mogu,” or boneless style that defines shapes without contours or outlines. Mogu originated in the 10th century and was common in the 11th and 13th centuries but had fallen out of use shortly after until it was brought back by Yun Shouping. Wu Changshou, Liu Haisu, and Zhang Daqian have imitated and studied his techniques in developing their individual styles.