Beauties, Album Leaves

This album, created by Huang Shen in his middle years, depicts eight delicate and refined court ladies. He first rendered them with meticulous fine-line drawing and then applied light washes of colour, producing an effect both simple and elegant. No background is painted; the figures themselves—with their sloping shoulders, narrow waists, and graceful postures—carry the entire composition, conveying a sense of gentle fragility while retaining a calm and leisurely demeanour. This reflects Huang Shen’s approach to figure painting, emphasizing spirit and temperament over strict likeness. Each Painting is accompanied by a poem written by the artist, exhibiting the refined style reminiscent of the late Tang dynasty. His calligraphy throughout is bold and expressive, yet carefully structured, creating a harmonious dialogue with the painted figures.

The album’s preface and inscription were added by modern calligrapher Zhao Zuwang, who praised it as “elegantly simple yet capturing enchanting charm.”