Dialogue Between Fisherman and Woodcutter
2 min readDialogue Between Fisherman and Woodcutter is a masterpiece made by Zhang Mingshan (Clay Figurine Zhang) in the late Qing Dynasty. It portrays the dialogue between an old fisherman and woodcutter when they encounter, and speaks highly of laboring people’s assiduity, optimism, honesty and kindness. This artwork adopts many real materials (such as props, hair, beard and junket) to present vivid figures. Fisherman and woodcutter echo each other, who have unsophisticated dynamics and lifelike facial expression. This artwork seems to fix a moment in daily life, and reaches the new peak of vividness in traditional Chinese sculpture fifi gures.
Zhang Mingshan (1826-1906)
Zhang Mingshan was a folk clay sculptor in the late Qing Dynasty. With previous name of Zhang Changlin and alias of Mingshan, he was a native of Shenzhou, Hebei. After settling down in Tianjin, he made a living with creation of clay fifi gurines. With rich imagination, super craftsmanship and a wide range of creation topics, he became the famous Clay Figurine Zhang due to vivid and distinct fifi gures with accurate psychological activities. His artwork won the fifi rst prize of “Panamanian Pacififi c International Competition.”
Clay Figurine Zhang
Clay Figurine Zhang refers to a folk sculpture art which developed in Daoguang Period of the Qing Dynasty. Since the founder Zhang Mingshan, it passes down to Zhang Yuting, Zhang Jinghu, Zhang Wu, Zhang Ming and Zhang Naiying for over 180 years. Clay Figurine Zhang is characterized as follows: 1) It has equal focus on realism and spirit expression. Facial expressions of fifi gures are outlined with the lines of traditional Chinese painting, while eyes, mouth and hair are carved subtly. 2) Soft colors are adopted and colors are elegant; 3) Clothing texture is “vivid” so as to integrate with figures’ thinking, character and action. 4) It is good at clay application on the clothes made of various materials. So ramie, cotton, woolen cloth and silk are vividly made with distinct features.
Clay Figurine of the Qing Dynasty
In the Qing Dynasty, Beijing, Tianjin, Fengxian (Shaanxi), Huaiyang (Henan), Suzhou (Jiangsu), Wuxi (Jiangsu), Hangzhou (Zhejiang), Chao’an (Guangdong) and other regions boasted developed clay sculpture production. Such clay sculpture process was collectively referred to as “Clay Figurine”. Among which, the artworks made in Suzhou, Wuxi and Tianjin were the most famous. Suzhou Clay Figurine featured refifi ned shape, which was mainly made by craftsmen in Huqiu. So Suzhou Clay Figurine was also called as “Huqiu Clay Figurine”. Wuxi Clay Figurine featured simple, complete and distorted shape, which was made in Huishan. So Suzhou Clay Figurine was also called as “Huishan Clay Figurine”. Clay Figurine Zhang was the representative of Tianjin Clay Figurine.
