Lai Chusheng

CHINA, Zhejiang, Hangzhou

Born in Xiaoshan district of Hangzhou, Lai Chusheng was a calligrapher, seal engraver, and painter who had an original name of Lai Jixun and a nickname of Ranxi. He served as a painter in the Imperial Painting Academy, among other positions in various arts associations in China. In addition, Lai authored several books including Collection of Paintings by Lai Chusheng, Collection of Pictorial Seals from Ranxi Studio, and Collection of Seals by Lai Chusheng.
His calligraphic style was influenced by those of renowned masters from ancient dynasties. It can be said that Lai’s works possess the extraordinary strength of Huang Daozhou, the unadorned directness of Jin Nong, and the wavy and unbounded twists of Zheng Fu. His clerical, running, and seal scripts were considered clear, strong, and stylish. Primarily influenced by Wu Xizai and Wu Changshuo, Lai’s seal engraving techniques could also be traced to the Qin (221–207 BCE) and Han (206 BCE–220 CE) dynasties. His seals exhibited a sense of natural and creative simplicity.
Lai’s paintings of flowers and birds were modeled after Xu Wei, Bada Shanren, Niu Shihui, and Zhao Zhiqian, and also adopted the styles of Wu Changshuo and Qi Baishi, using simple forms with thick ink and lush colors.
Extant paintings include Lotus Flower and Winter Bamboo Shoots, among others that are kept at the Shanghai Chinese Painting Academy. Lai’s collection of Buddhist pictorial seals include Sakyamuni Buddha Triad, Head of a Buddha, Eighteen Arhats, and many others.