Wang Hui

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For the 21st century intellectual, co-editor of Dushu, see Wang Hui (intellectual)

Wang Hui (1632 - 1717) was a Chinese landscape painter, the best known of the Four Wangs. He, and the three other Wangs, dominated orthodox art in China through out the late Ming and early Qing periods. Of the Four Wangs, Wang Hui is considered to be the best-known today. Wang Hui followed in the footprints of his great grandfathers, grandfather, father and uncles and learned painting at a very early age. He was later taught by two contemporary masters, Zhang Ke and Wang Shimin, who taught him to work in the tradition of copying famous Chinese paintings. This is most likely the reason why critics claim that his work is conservative and reflects the Yuan and Song traditions. One critic claimed that, “his landscape paintings reflect his nostalgic attachment to classical Chinese aesthetics.” Along with the other Wangs, Wang Hui helped to perpetuate the tradition of copying the ancient masters rather than creating original work.