In Chinese pre-Qin mythology system, Luo Shen (alternate name as Fu Fei) was originally the goddess of the Luo River. Later as fairy tales spread, her image has been enriched and developed, and gradually becomes the object of literati’s affection. In Ode to the Goddess of the Luo River, Cao Zhi’s masterpiece about the romance between man and goddess, she was embodied as the ideal goddess of beauty, and later became the symbol of traditional oriental aesthetics.

Inspired by Cao Zhi’s Ode to the Goddess of the Luo River, the painting centers on a lady walking on water surface. The pretty and dignified goddess is riding on clouds to slowly fly over the vast waves, surrounded by her floating ribbons. She turns to look back with a graceful expression. The work highlights the figure but abandons the rich plot of the Ode. The narrow space sets off the goddess’s posture “swift as a frightened swan goose, graceful as a loong in flight”. The vivid figure brings the whole painting to life. The work is elegant and refined in color arrangement, smooth and free in technique, and flexible in lines, adding a graceful and flexible sense to the vigorous technique of Chen Laolian (renowned painter, calligrapher and poet in the Ming Dynasty who has great influence on Ren’s painting). The lines are well spaced: each of the ups and downs, as well as twists and turns of the stokes has the sense of rhythm.

Ren’s painting originated from folk art. He attached great importance to tradition, integrated the advantages of various schools, and absorbed the sketching and coloring methods of Western painting, so as to cultivate his own colorful, novel and vivid style. Since ancient times, this goddess, who came down from the heaven lightly by riding the wind and waves, represents mystery and romance, arouses people’s infinite reverie, and inspires artists in an infinite manner.

(Edited by Li Hanning & Yang Zhige, 2021)