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How did Xia Guiās large ax-cut strokes differ from Li Tangās small ax-cut strokes?
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Xia Gui
Pure and Remote View of Streams and Mountains, detail of hand scroll in ink and paper by Xia Gui, early 13th century (Southern Song); in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, Taiwan.
The distinction between the brushwork of Li Tang and Xia Gui lies in the scale and application of the "ax-cut" texture stroke, a technique used to render the rough surfaces of rocks.1
- Li Tangās "small ax-cut" strokes: Li Tang developed this technique to provide a tactile sense to painted rocks, suggesting a surface hewn with an ax. These strokes were instrumental in transforming the monumental landscape style of the 11th century into the more refined and lyrical mode that characterized the Southern Song academy.123
- Xia Guiās "large ax-cut" strokes: Xia Gui, along with other members of the Ma-Xia school, adopted and expanded upon Li Tangās technique. Xia Gui utilized these broader, broken strokes to render rough-textured surfaces with greater facility and spontaneity. While Li Tangās strokes were more focused on achieving a precise reality, Xia Guiās larger strokes contributed to a style that was often described as strikingly dramatic in both brushwork and composition.13