Xia Gui

Xia Gui (夏珪), also known as Xia Kuei, (fl. 1180-1230) was a prominent Chinese landscape painter of the Southern Song dynasty. He is considered one of the Four Masters of the Southern Song, alongside Ma Yuan, Li Tang, and Liu Songnian.

Xia Gui, whose courtesy name was Yuyu (禹玉), served as a painter-in-attendance (dai zhao 待詔) in the Imperial Painting Academy during the reigns of Emperor Guangzong and Emperor Ningzong. Details of his life are scarce, but it is believed he was born in Qian Tang (錢塘, present-day Hangzhou, Zhejiang province).

Xia Gui's style is characterized by its bold, abbreviated brushwork, atmospheric perspective, and asymmetrical compositions. He often employed the “axe-cut” (fu pi cun 斧劈皴) texture stroke to depict rocks and mountains, creating a rugged and dynamic effect. His landscapes frequently feature misty distances, evocative of the atmospheric conditions of Southern China. He was a master of suggestion, leaving large portions of the silk blank to imply depth and space. Common motifs in his paintings include fishermen, travelers, and distant pavilions.

His work, along with that of Ma Yuan, established the so-called "Ma-Xia School," which had a significant impact on later generations of Chinese landscape painters, particularly in Japan. His paintings often explore themes of nature, tranquility, and the relationship between humanity and the environment. Surviving examples of his work are found in major museum collections worldwide. His innovative and influential style cemented his reputation as one of the most important figures in the history of Chinese painting.