In this painting of an arhat in a bamboo grove, the barefooted arhat is seen sitting on the ground with his right shoulder exposed. Directly facing the audience, his head is tilted upwards as he gazes at an egret that is flying up above. Bamboos of various heights insinuate that although the arhat has transcended beyond the mortal world and broken free from attachments of the self, he is, however, earnest and humble, and has attained Mahāyāna, which is a state of complete enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings. The arhat dressed in grayish white pants is depicted in small lyrical strokes, and he appears natural and free-spirited. A great contrast is formed with the egret that he is gazing at, which is depicted using refined gonbi techniques. The bamboos are painted using meticulous strokes, illustrated with double hooks and filled with color. Washes of pigments are befittingly placed to create a sense of depth and blend harmoniously with the washes of blue in the sky. The overall painting appears bright and luminous. Attention needs to be placed to avoid being too stiff and dull with the painting style of gonbi, and on the other hand, lyrical painting should refrain from being overly uncontrolled and wild. This painting is an exceptional example of combing both styles, and the metaphorical significance it conveys is also quite profound.
简中｜竹林罗汉
Paintings
Xia Jing Shan
ink and color on silk
89x54
1998
印記：吉祥、楠竹居士、夏荊山
bj4016
