“Peony rises alone from the tower” is the inscription praised by Qi Baishi’s most proud disciple Li Kuchan for Jianghe peony paintings. Jiang He (1934-2018), a generation of peony painting masters in China, studied under Li Kuchan, a master of Chinese painting, for eight years.
Jiang He was born in Luoyang, the hometown of peonies. He learned to paint peonies from his mother since he was a child. After Jiang He became an adult, he paid homage to famous teachers. Wang Xuetao, Dong Shouping, Sun Qifeng, Liu Jiying, Hu Jieqing, Zhu Lesan and other famous flower and bird painters once taught him. Jianghe’s peony paintings are unique in the creation of peony paintings by combining the strengths of each family and integrating their own experience. He is good at creating Chinese paintings with themes such as peonies, lotus flowers, and eagles, especially the elegant and refined white peony paintings, which are widely acclaimed in the industry. His works are collected by China Zhongnanhai, the State Council, the Great Hall of the People and other institutions. Overseas, his works are collected by many international celebrities such as Samaranch, the lifetime honorary chairman of the International Olympic Committee, and the chairman of the International Olympic Committee Collection Committee. His works were cast into gold and silver coins by the United States Postal Service during the Obama period.
The 12th issue of “People Weekly” in 2004 introduced: Qingqing green bamboo wind, white peony fragrance. The peonies painted by Jiang He are amazing and lifelike. The flowers, branches, leaves, and stems all display the elegant demeanor of famous flowers, which are so intoxicating that people can’t put it down. It is really worthy of the name of Qi Baishi, the first disciple of Li Kuchan! There are many people who paint peonies in China and even Japan. People who express the shape, spirit, color and meaning of the famous peony so vividly are rare. So people say that Mr. Jiang He is the contemporary “Peony King”, which is worthy of the name.
