Picture Book of Romances of Three Kingdoms

Title: Picture Book of Romances of Three Kingdoms

Author: Luo Guangzhong, Jin Xiezhong

ISBN: 9787806635643

Edition: English-Chinese

Publishing Date: 2009-01

Publishing House: China Books Company

Cover: P   Page: 240   Format: 12mo   

Introduction:

Jin Xiezhong (1917-1975), also called Lay Buddhist Shuang Teng, was the disciple of Xu Yansun, the famous artist of Beijing-Tianjin School. He, along with Liu Jiyou, Wang Shuhui and Ren Shuaiying, formed the influential Northern School. His works are characterized by being natural and true to life with exquisite settings.

As the best work of Jin, this unabridged version of Romance of Three Kingdoms in Colored Drawing has 240 pictures made with fine, delicate strokes and rich colors. Each chapter has two drawings depicting the main characters and the most interesting scenes in the novel. Rich in characters and meticulous in layout, the whole book has a strong visual appeal that suits both refined and popular tastes.

The artist’s technique of drawing lines with the aid of a ruler in painting palatial buildings and characters is given fully play in the work, particularly the use of lines and colors. Jin was especially skilled in drawing lines, which is flexible and adept.  As the success of the work of this kind is predicated on coloring, Jin’s colors are rich but not too strong as to compromise the appropriateness. The precipitous and tranquil mountains and rivers serve as a foil to the characters, horses, various weapons, as well as palaces, kiosks, pavilions and screen walls, all portrayed in such a way that is ingenious beyond description and intriguing.