以笔墨，为中华文明画像——在《美术里的中国》赏范曾名作《老子出关》
两千多年前，老子出函谷关。关令尹喜眺望东方，见紫气浩荡八千里，求教于老子。老子留下五千言《道德经》，便莫知所终。他将毕生所悟之“道”留在文字里，成就了中国思想史上的一个高峰。千百年后，国画泰斗范曾先生则从代代流传的文字中用笔墨勾勒出这位伟大先哲的容颜。
看到画作，就如同与画中人真实邂逅。在创作背后，又蕴藏着画家怎样的努力与情怀呢？中央广播电视总台推出的纪录片《美术里的中国》将与您共赴中国美学与文化之旅，跟随真诚的笔墨与文字，走近范曾，走进《老子出关》的故事。
墨是混沌万象，线是思接千古。出自范曾之手的《老子出关》，神思飞扬间，准确把握住了老子的神韵——皓眉如雪，洞察天地的慧目微睁，既稳如山岳，又似缥缈在云间。观者能够从准确而自由的笔墨中，一眼认出这位刻在中华文化印记中的道家学派创始人。
图：范曾作品《老子出关》局部
过去数十载，范曾画过上百件《老子出关》。在每一幅作品中，他不断尝试接近老子思想中的“道”，又把“道”反复融入画作与生命里。他说：“老子最伟大的就是对自然的真心崇拜。他讲人法地，地法天，天法道，道法自然。因此，在我心里要形成老子的形象，这样下笔才有神。”
图：范曾上百件《老子出关》之一
1938年, 范曾出生于江苏南通的诗文世家。十七岁时，他进入南开大学历史系学习，后因对绘画的兴趣转入中央美术学院，便展开了这位书画大师数十年的基本功修炼之路。在范曾眼中，造型观念是中国画独特的遗传因子；而白描，则是造型的基础。他反复临摹传世杰作，将基本功锤炼至炉火纯青。他的作品均以线条摄神取象，准确抓住了描绘对象的形体结构和精神气质。
范曾先生曾说，画作不仅关系到审美，更是表达精神与思想的载体。他用画笔精心描绘出民族脊梁的模样，触及了民族传统与文化的根本。
According to historical allusions, Laozi, the Taoist sage, rode on a water buffalo heading to the west 2,500 years ago. At the Hangu Pass on the bank of the Yellow River, he wrote "The Classic of the Way and Virtue" (Tao Te Ching). After 2,500 years, well-known Chinese artist Fan Zeng adapted this scene into a painting, which has become a classic in contemporary art circles.
Fan Zeng is a traditional Chinese painting master and is especially skilled in figure painting. His works fuse elements of landscapes, flower-and-bird and figure paintings, as well as forms of poetry and calligraphy. His paintings of ancient figures are famous for their simple but vivid style and vigorous strokes, and are acclaimed for retaining the classic tradition of Chinese painting, in which he seeks a philosophical and poetic touch.
The painting entitled "Laozi Leaving Hangu Pass" depicts the manner and expression of Laozi, helping viewers to easily recognize the ancient Chinese philosopher.
Fan has created more than 100 paintings of "Laozi Leaving Hangu Pass" during the past few decades. In each piece, he has constantly tried to approach the "Taoism" in Laozi's thought and has integrated "Taoism" into his paintings. "I think the most significant thing about Laozi is his sincere worship of nature. I should deeply form the image of him in my heart so that I can draw his charm," said the artist.
Fan Zeng was born in a well-educated family in Nantong, Jiangsu Province. He studied history for two years at Nankai University in Tianjin and then transferred to the department of Chinese ink-brush painting at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing. In his mind, paintings are not only related to aesthetics, but are also carriers of spirit and thought.
More details about Fan Zeng and his artwork are shown in the documentary series "Fine Arts in China," which is produced by China Media Group (CMG) and features classical and modern artworks that demonstrate the aesthetics of Chinese culture and history. The documentary series aims to serve as a "video and digital art museum," through which excellent artworks and traditional Chinese culture can be brought closer to a wider audience at home and abroad.