European Scenes in Traditional Chinese Painting

By Pan Rongchang

In 2004 I visited eight European countries as a member of Zhejiang Literary Federation Delegation at the invitation of French-China Cultural Exchange Association. It was an eye-opening experience. We visited museums and other places of historical and cultural interests and we feasted our eyes on the gorgeous natural beauty in Europe.

In 2008, I translated my European impressions into traditional Chinese painting. In recapturing the splendor of Luxemburg Church, I tried bold brushwork and ink techniques. I endeavored to recreate the passion of Salzburg. The anxiety I detected in Notre Dame de Paris also came out well in my representation. I depicted a street and architectures in Brussels in simple lines.

After the traditional paintings, I created a series of woodblock prints in my effort to recreate my European impressions. I was inspired to adopt lines in calligraphic style and carving skills often seen Chinese seal engraving. The prints boast an expressionist style. All this was meant to find a balance where east meets west. The 2004 tour to Europe was the seed of all these creations. □