Zheng Banqiao's paintings have the following characteristics: a wide range of subject matter, free painting style, and changeable forms.
Zheng Banqiao (1693-1766), formerly known as Zheng Xie, the word Kerou, the name Li'an, also known as Banqiao, known as Mr. Banqiao, was a native of Xinghua, Jiangsu, a calligrapher, painter and writer in the Qing Dynasty. He is an important representative of the Eight Strange Figures of Yangzhou, whose poetry, calligraphy and painting are known as the "Three Uniques", and he is a representative literati painter of the Qing Dynasty.
Zheng Banqiao is good at landscapes, flowers and birds, figures, calligraphy and other forms of artistic expression, whether it is natural scenery or humanistic taste, can be expressed with pen and ink. His paintings cover all genres and styles of traditional Chinese painting, including the majestic and magnificent landscape paintings of the Northern Song Dynasty, the delicate and delicate flower and bird paintings of the Southern Song Dynasty, the Qing and superb paintings of the literati of the Yuan Dynasty, and the strange changes of Ming Dynasty paintings.
Zheng Banqiao's painting style is sparse and sparse, and his brushwork is sharp, full of personality and innovation. He does not stick to ancient methods, but according to his own aesthetics and emotions, he gives free play to create his own family law. His painting method has both realistic and freehand elements, both meticulous depiction and omitted omission, both fine outline and splash of ink, both elegant and light, and strong and intense, both regular symmetry and oblique inclination, both calm and serenity, and turbulent agitation.
Zheng Banqiao's paintings are full of change and imagination, and he likes to use techniques such as distortion, exaggeration, and allegory to make the picture both visually impactful and profoundly allegorical. In his paintings, there are often some peculiar images, such as stones, bamboos, orchids, chrysanthemums, etc., all of which have symbolic meanings, such as stones representing strength, bamboo representing integrity, orchids representing nobility, chrysanthemums representing indifference, etc. In his paintings, there are often some poetic scenes, such as clouds, moonlight, snow scenes, ink paintings, etc., all of which have a strong atmosphere and mood, such as clouds and mist represent mystery, moonlight represents tranquility, snow scenes represent purity, ink represents agility, etc.
Zheng Banqiao's paintings are exemplary of literati painters in the Qing Dynasty, and his paintings not only show his superb skills and unique style, but also reflect his personality pursuits and thoughts and feelings. His paintings are the precious wealth of traditional Chinese painting and the essence of Chinese culture.