Ren Yi

Rèn Yí was a painter and son of a rice merchant who supplemented his income by doing portraits. He was born in Zhejiang, but after the death of his father in 1855 he lived in Shanghai. This move placed him in a more urban world that was exposed to Western thinking. In Shanghai he became a member of the Shanghai School which fused popular and traditional styles. He is also sometimes referred to as one of the "Four Rens."

He was noted for his bold brushstrokes and use of color. In his earlier career the Song Dynasty painters influenced him, but later on he favored a freer style influenced by the works of Zhu Da.

Sources

*Chinese Paintings in the Ashmolean Museum Oxford Oxford ISBN 1854441329
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