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

Artwork

This work is a quintessential example of Zhu Guicheng's Gongbi-style painting, characterized by its rich, vibrant colors. The scene depicts a group of black and gray carp swimming leisurely amidst yellow flowers, with one fish leaping gracefully, showcasing diverse and lively postures that highlight the artist's deep mastery of traditional techniques. The background is delicately shaded in pale green, representing aquatic plants, with bamboo leaves interspersed and a few yellow flowers dipping into the water, creating a scene full of vitality.

The composition is full and dynamic, making excellent use of the entire canvas with a careful balance of density and openness, creating a rhythm that draws the viewer’s eye across the painting. The artist uses meticulous lines to outline the structure and texture of each fish, with bright colors softly blended on the fish’s bellies, enhancing the painting’s vibrancy and richness.

In Chinese tradition, the word "fish" (鱼, yú) is a homophone for "surplus" (余, yú), symbolizing wealth and abundance. Through this artwork, Zhu Guicheng expresses his longing for a prosperous life and extends his wishes for a bountiful year ahead.

Artist