Bidspirit auction | Landscape for Reclusive Fishing in

Landscape for Reclusive Fishing in Misty Waves, by Wang Hui (Wang Shigu) - Wang Shigu (1632–1717), born Wang Hui, courtesy name Shigu, and also known by art names such as Gengyan Sanren and Wumu Shanren, was a native of Changshu, Jiangsu. An outstanding painter of the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, he was one of the ”Four Wangs” and, along with Wu Li and Yun Shouping, was also ranked among the ”Six Masters of the Early Qing Period”. Renowned for his landscape paintings, he was honored as the ”Sage of Painting”. Specializing in landscape art, Wang studied in his early years under Wang Jian and Wang Shimin, and extensively learned from the masters of the Five Dynasties, Song, Yuan, and Ming periods—including Shen Zhou and Wen Zhengming. He skillfully integrated the strengths of both the Northern and Southern schools of painting. His brushwork was highly versatile, ranging from delicate and refined to vigorous and majestic, while his use of ink was flexible and his coloring bright and lively. His style uniquely combined the serene elegance of Jiangnan (south of the Yangtze) scenery with the grandeur of northern landscapes, reflecting a comprehensive synthesis of traditional techniques. In his later years, Wang was commissioned by the Kangxi Emperor to lead the creation of the ”Kangxi Emperor's Southern Inspection Tour” scrolls, a masterpiece that greatly impressed the art world. He also nurtured many younger painters and played a pivotal role in promoting the development of landscape painting in the Qing dynasty, contributing profoundly to the flourishing of early Qing art.