Life and Works of Ding Yanyong

Running head: LIFE AND WORKS OF DING YANYONG
Life and Works of Ding Yanyong
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note
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1LIFE AND WORKS OF DING YANYONG
Introduction
Ding Yanyong was one of the most well-known painters to emerge out of China in the last
century. He was well known as a painter who had brought the aesthetics of the paintings from
the Western world into the Eastern world, especially into China himself. The paintings which
were painted by Ding Yanyong himself are said to consist of the features of both the
paintings from the Western world with that of the paintings from the Eastern world itself. It is
because of these reasons that Ding Yanyong is considered to be one of the most well-known
and respected painters of China in the last century itself.
The purpose of this essay is to determine the life and the art works of Ding
Yanyong as well as the main features of his art works in relation to that of the four
perfections of the literary arts itself.
Early Life
It is better to understand the life and the learning practices of the painter Ding
Yanyong before attempting to discuss about the subject matter of the main features of the
paintings which were drawn by him. From the articles which were provided to the readers
themselves, it can be stated that Ding Yanyong belonged to a family which was quite rich and
was financially well. He received home education and his talents in the field of painting as
well as calligraphy was well recognized by his teachers as well as his family members who
always encouraged him to pursue his interests in his life (Chan, 2013).
Education in Art
It is from the same articles that it can be stated that Ding Yanyong went to Japan to study the
subject matter of art and art studies. It is in Japan that he learned about various styles of the
art from which was used by him later as a means of developing the various art forms which
he was known to be famous among the popular artists of the century. While in Japan, he got

2LIFE AND WORKS OF DING YANYONG
to meet many notable Japanese artists who returned to Japan at the time during the late
Taisho period in Japan itself. From the very beginning of his career in the art world, Yanyong
started to show a keen interest in the Western art and the way these paintings were painted by
the Western artists themselves. It was in Tokyo itself that the painter came under the
influence of the Great Masters of art and got himself influenced by the works done by the
artists belonging to the Impressionism, Post-Impressionism as well and Fauvism itself (Liu,
2016).
Yanyong’s first painting which he completed as part of his graduation is considered to
be On the Dining Table, which was said to be done in the post- Impressionist style of art.
Since then, Ding Yanyong had started making a number of arts which were a mixture of both
the Western as well as the Eastern forms of art itself. Later, he returned to China, and started
to involve himself in various art movements of the time.
Relation of Yangyong’s Art to the Four Perfections
As it is known by the art historians that the Chinese four perfections of the literati art
consist of painting, calligraphy and seal carving. It is known by the art historians as well as
the art students that Ding Yangyong had created both normal paintings as well as had
indulged into the four perfections of the Chinese literati art itself.
Poetry also forms one of the important perspectives of the poetry by Ding Yangyong.
In the poetry, the artist had included the various paintings which were drawn by himself and
then the painter used to make the poetry based on the drawings which he used to make. It
must also be stated in this case the painter drew his inspirations of poetry from his father
himself who used to love poetry very much
It can be stated by the art experts that in the early years of his life, Ding Yangyong
had started to make paintings which were made with the use of bright colours, with vivid