Pu Hua

• Pu Hua (蒲華), courtesy name Zuo Ying (作英), also known as Zhu Ying (竹英) or Zhu Yun (竹雲), was born in Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province. He was a renowned calligrapher and painter during the late Qing Dynasty and is often associated with the "Shanghai School" of painting. Along with Xu Gu (虛谷), Wu Changshuo (吳昌碩), and Ren Bonian (任伯年), he is referred to as one of the "Four Masters of the Shanghai School" (海派四傑). Pu Hua was known for his reluctance to pursue an official career and instead devoted himself entirely to the arts. He traveled extensively, often carrying his brush and inkstone, and eventually settled in Shanghai, where he supported himself by selling his paintings. His work focused on flowers, landscapes, and particularly bamboo, which became known as "Pu Bamboo" (蒲竹). His distinctive style was characterized by his adept use of brushwork, employing techniques such as bleeding and fading ink to create unique effects in his paintings.

• relevant artists

  • Jin Nong

    Jin Nong, courtesy name was Shou Men, Si Nong and Ji Jin, art name was Dongxin Xiansheng, Jiliu Shanmin, Qujiang Waishi, Shou Daoshi, etc. He was born in Qiantang (now Hangzhou Zhejiang) later moved to Yangzhou, a painter and calligrapher of the Qing Dynasty, and one of the eight eccentrics of Yangzhou “Yangzhou Ba Guai”. He was living by selling his art works. His paintings had a unique style and were often painted flowers with light ink, but he was especially good at painting plum blossoms.

  • Shi Yun

  • Zhang Xiong

    Zhang Xiong, courtesy name was Shou Fu, art name was Zi Xiang, later he changed to Xiang Weng.