Zhang Zao

CHINA, Jiangsu, Suzhou; Tang dynasty

Zhang Zao was a painter from Wujun (present day Suzhou, Jiangsu). Also known as Wen Tong, he was a government official during the rule of Emperor Xuanzong (reigned 712–756) of the Tang dynasty. Zhang was skilled in ink wash landscape painting, as well as Buddhist and Daoist imagery. Records of Famous Paintings from the Tang Dynasty praises his painting skills. He was particularly good at painting pine trees and rocks. His works, all of which are in black and white, were created by his unique ink wash painting technique known as pomo. These works exhibited the influence of the painting master Wang Wei.
Among his written works is the State of Mind of a Painter, in which he discussed key painting techniques which have since been regarded as significantly influential on Chinese painting. Zhang was also skilled in calligraphy, especially in bafen (eight parts) script.
According to Famous Paintings in History, Zhang and Bi Hong painted the murals in the north corridor of Jianfu Temple in Shaanxi. He also painted and inscribed the landscape painting at Baoying Temple. Six of his works, including Pine Trees and Rocks, were compiled in Xuanhe Catalog of Paintings.