Abundance Year After Year (Niánnián Yǒuyú)" by Zhu Guicheng – Chinese Gongbi Painting

Artwork

This meticulous painting, created by Zhu Guicheng—renowned as the “Fish Painter of Jinling” and celebrated as the leading artist in China for depicting carp—captures three carp swimming in a serene, green-hued environment. The artist’s expertise in painting carp is evident in this work, which uses green as the dominant color to evoke a sense of tranquility and harmony.

Zhu Guicheng skillfully places the three carp in the center of the composition, each fish displaying a different posture, adding vitality and a dynamic quality to the scene. The Gongbi technique, known for its precision, is used to render the carp with fine lines that meticulously outline each fish's body structure and scale patterns. The careful layering of color creates a lifelike effect, with the scales appearing to glisten as if bathed in natural sunlight.

The background, primarily in white and green, contrasts beautifully with the dark carp, enhancing the painting’s lively and vibrant atmosphere. In the upper right corner, the artist has inscribed the title "Abundance Year After Year," reflecting his aspirations for a prosperous and fulfilling life.

Artist