「Look at the Picture and Talk about the Painting」The Mid-Autumn Festival Flavor Hidden in the Painting

Which is rounder, the moon in China or the moon in foreign cultures? In Van Gogh’s “Starry Night”, the orange-yellow moon is trembling as it is pulled by the swirling nebula, and even the distorted arc of the pine tree shadow exudes a strong sense of realistic tension. However, in Ma Yuan’s “Moonlit Drinking Picture”, only a half-square wine table stands still, while the sparse bamboo, rocks, and the moonlight hidden in the light ink and cloud shadows create an elegant and transcendent atmosphere, which is more captivating and evokes more reverie than the realistic depiction.

Western paintings pursue “reality”. Johann Christian Dahl’s “Dresden under the Moonlight” uses romantic brushstrokes to let the silver-gray moonlight flow over the church spires and the surface of the Elbe River, capturing the tranquility and grandeur of the moonlit city. It could also let the cold light of the full moon cut through the bare tree branches, or splash the golden foil-like light into the Thames River, depicting the moonlight’s shadows and the romantic atmosphere in a more poetic way.

Chinese painting seeks “meaning”, seeking emotions within all things: In Tang Yin’s “Illustration of Chang’e’s Flight to the Moon”, Chang’e stands with a rabbit, and the cypress tree and the full moon harmonize with the imagery of the Mid-Autumn Festival. Through her lowered gaze, one can sense her frustrated hesitation. While Wen Zhengming’s “Illustration of the Mid-Autumn Moon” uses a serene and hazy brushwork to complement the poem “The moon is bright during the Mid-Autumn night”, allowing viewers to imagine the clear and beautiful atmosphere of the Mid-Autumn night. Xu Wei’s “Illustration of the Yellow Crab” has no moon, but uses ink to depict fat crabs and withered lotus leaves, along with the poem “When fortune comes, I alone receive the official appointment”, integrating the charm of the Mid-Autumn season and the sentiments of the literati into the thick and thin ink, fully demonstrating the characteristics of Chinese literati painting that “emphasizes the meaning and values expression”.

In fact, there is no such thing as a “more round” moon. Western realism depicts the beauty of the moon’s natural appearance, while Chinese expressiveness conveys the beauty of expressing emotions towards all things. Just like “the moon has phases of waxing and waning”, both separation and reunion embody the charm of life. This moon that spans the east and west, and these autumnal objects that hold thoughts, ultimately convey the power to warm the hearts in different artistic forms.

I also hope that everyone’s life can always be like this moment’s moonlight, complete and warm. Wishing everyone a happy Mid-Autumn Festival!

The tea for today is all gone. Next time, I’ll brew a fresh pot and enjoy art with you again.