Virtuoso's donated works carry on artistic lineage

Among the artists who captivate audiences with their depictions of spring scenery are the manhua (Chinese-style comic) works of Feng Zikai (1898-1975), a beloved painter who was also a virtuoso in calligraphy, literature and music.

He left a body of work marked by free-flowing strokes and soft palettes, with an underlying peace and humor. Beneath the brushstrokes, the arrival of spring is visible in blooming willow trees, sprouts of grass, flower sellers on the street and people watching swallows fly above.

Feng's family recently donated some of his works to the China National Academy of Painting in Beijing, including six manhua-style paintings in which the artist depicted the vivid spring scenery, his used ink slab, and a hand scroll of 10 drawings created by his family members.