Wu Bin

Place: Beijing

Born: 1568

Death: 1626

Biography:

Wu Bin was a Ming dynasty Chinese landscape painter during the reign of the Wanli Emperor (r. 1573–1620). His courtesy name was 'Wenzhong' and his art name 'Zhiyin Toutuo' means 'Mendicant monk at the temple hidden by tree branches'. His specific dates of birth and death are not known. Wu was a prolific painter and is known for his mastery of the 'xieyi' style of painting, which emphasizes expressive brushwork and a focus on capturing the spirit of the subject rather than its physical appearance. He was also a skilled calligrapher and is known for his inscriptions on paintings and other works of art. Wu was a member of the prestigious 'Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou' group of painters, which was active during the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. He was also a teacher and is known to have taught a number of other prominent painters, including Bada Shanren and Chen Hongshou. Wu's paintings are highly regarded for their beauty and elegance, and are held in the collections of major museums around the world, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the National Palace Museum in Taipei.