Peaceful Life (安生圖)

Li Hongzhao’s *Peaceful Life* (安生圖) is an ink-and-color painting that depicts a tranquil garden scene, composed with elegance and poetic rhythm. Clusters of nandina bushes and ornamental rocks are arranged in natural harmony, rendered with refined and rhythmic brushwork. The subtle variations of ink tones demonstrate the artist’s profound mastery of brush and ink control. On the ground, several quails stroll and peck, each with distinct posture and vivid expression, enlivening the composition while symbolizing the idea of “peaceful living,” a metaphor for harmony and vitality. The painting adopts a horizontal scroll composition, with clearly layered spatial depth. The artist skillfully uses blank space to suggest water and distant scenery, evoking a sense of openness and freshness. In technique, dry-brush texture strokes combine with soft ink washes, creating a moist and restrained atmosphere of early spring. The inscribed poem complements the painting’s mood, expressing the artist’s inner sentiments while enhancing the literati character of the work. Rather than seeking ornate beauty, Li values serenity and subtlety—finding movement within stillness and vitality within calmness. The entire piece exudes liveliness and grace, exemplifying the artist’s gift for expressing human emotion through nature. It embodies the aesthetic ideal of traditional literati painting: “the brush as the bone, and spirit as the soul.”