古元是一位在中国现代美术 史上成绩卓著、影响深远的美术大 家和木刻大师。他在延安生活仅有 七年时间,却创作了木刻作品170 幅,几乎是他一生木刻作品总量 352幅的一半,尽显了他青年时代 木刻艺术的才华。他在延安时期的 木刻艺术风格有四方面最为显著。
一、民族化风格
木刻的民族化风格就是在反映 中国人民生活中形成的有中国传统 技法因素并为中国民众所喜爱的风 格。而古元木刻最引人注目的就是 他的民族化风格。
首先从作品所反映的生活内 容看,是当时延安和陕北的生活景 象。
古元是广东珠海人,1938年, 年仅十八岁即只身奔赴革命圣地延 安,在陕北公学经过三个月学习革 命理论,后进入了鲁迅艺术文学院 美术系学习美术,开始学习木刻, 经过一年半的紧张学习,奠定了革 命的世界观、人生观和艺术观,同 时也开始了木刻的创作。
他在鲁艺学习期间,即创作 木刻作品23幅,虽然所用的方法是 阴刻法,但反映的内容是他到延安 后的所见所闻,从第一幅木刻作品 《游击队行进》开始到接着创作的 《青纱帐里》《战斗的空隙》《向 敌后挺进》《走向自由》组画16 幅等,都是现实生活内容的再现。 1940年6月从鲁艺学习毕业后,分配到延安县川口区碾庄乡当乡文书 之后的作品,更是对当地农民群 众生活的生动刻画。他住在农民家 里,和老乡一起劳动、一起生活, 深入地了解了那里的农民群众,能 不断地从农村平平常常的生活中发 现许许多多的美,也就产生了急欲 创作和表现生活之美的灵感。他回 忆:“我住在这村子里,有许许多 多令人感奋的新鲜事物呈现在眼 前,我非常喜爱这些新鲜事物,如 同看见许许多多非常优美的图画。 身处在这许许多多优美的活的图画 之中,我产生了一种强烈的创作 欲望。”[1]他的作品从1940年的 《牛群》《羊群》《杂草》《挑 水》《结婚登记》《骆驼队》等, 到1941年的《读报》《离婚诉》 等,再到1944年前的更多作品,都 反映了他在延安亲眼看到或听到的 陕北老百姓喜闻乐见的生活情景。 这就从内容上决定了他民族化风格 的形成。
再从他木刻作品的主要特点的 形成历程看,自从到碾庄乡之后, 他的作品为了尊重和适应农民群众 的审美习惯,下决心抛弃了已经习 惯与稳定并见到突出成效的阴刻 法,改为阳刻法,这使他的木刻风 格产生了明显的变化。他说:“我 的木刻画是在农民的炕头上‘展 出’的,周围的老乡们就是我的观 众,也就是我的老师。”“老乡们 对于一些不喜欢的东西便直率地提 出意见。他们说:‘为啥这人脸半 边是白的,那半边又是黑的?’他们批评的很好。......以后,我就根 据群众的意见,参考我国民间绘画 和装饰艺术的传统,‘忍痛’舍弃 不合群众口味的那些生搬硬套的手 法,探索着群众喜爱的艺术形式。 《离婚诉》《结婚登记》和《哥哥 的假期》等作品,都是经过返工, 重新创作出来的。经过这样不断的 努力,才逐渐形成了我那一时期的 作品风格。”[2]以两幅《离婚诉》 为例,第一幅作于1941年,用阴 刻法以块面造型,整个画面显得灰 暗。而第二幅作于1943年,用阳刻 法,以线条造型,摆脱光影明暗, 整个画面显示出明朗的调子。两幅 虽然均为佳作,但第二幅更具有民 族特色,更大众化,人民群众更喜 欢。
古元木刻的民族风格,正是通 过从内容到形式两方面的努力而形 成的,不仅深受当地老百姓的欢迎 和好评,而且也在其他解放区和国 统区都得到赞赏,徐悲鸿盛赞古元 为“天才”“巨星”“中国共产党 之大艺术家”。后来又传到国外也 受到很高的评价。
二、明快和谐的画面
古元木刻总是给人一种明快 和谐和愉悦的感觉,这源于以下三 点。
首先是延安的大环境对他的感 染。他是从军阀、买办、资本家和 外国领事作威作福,而人民大众都 在水深火热之中的广东出发,奔赴
来延安的。他一到延安就感觉这里
是解放了的地方,民主、自由,人 们心情舒畅,这种欣喜的环境既会 影响到他的心情,也会影响到他的 学习和创作。
其次,是古元善于发现生活中 的美。世界著名的法国雕塑家罗丹 说:“所谓大师,就是这样的人: 他们用自己的眼睛去看别人见过的 东西,在别人司空见惯的东西上, 能够发现出美来。”[3]古元就是这 样一位不同寻常的画家,他一到延 安,伴随着学习和认识上的提高, 就能在大家习以为常的事物中发现 闪光的东西,和勤劳的农民一起生 活,对每户人家都熟悉了,很喜欢 他们,对那里的老乡有了深厚的情 感,以至对整个边区的农民也有了 深厚的情感。正因此,他就对陕北 农村平凡的生活,拥有创作欲望。
最后,是技法上能从想要表达 的整体效果出发,并为了适应群众 的审美习惯的需要,由阴刻法改为 阳刻法,这样创作出来的作品就出 现了调子上的改变,显得明快而和 谐。
三、自由抒情的情调
古元的木刻作品都有他要表达 的故事,在表达故事的过程中常常 带有一种抒情的特点。从1939年和 1940年创作的以白映黑突出主要人 物的《播种》《挑水》《运草》到 以后的《读报》《挺进》《秋收》 《结婚登记》《哥哥的假期》之二 和《区政府办公室》、《老炊事员 的寿辰》等,既具有一种动感又蕴 含着一种激情,使人看后仿佛听到 的是一首首的抒情诗,拨动了赏阅 者的心弦。
这种抒情格调的形成有三方面 的因素:
一是由于他热爱延安和陕北, 热爱这里的农民群众,他的作品中 就自然地渗透了这种爱的情感。
二是由于他能自由地选择创 作方向和题材。古元对人生和艺术 所抱的根本态度就是走向自由,他 来到延安就到了民主、自由的解放 区,他在延安,又能处在一个相对 安稳的环境中,在这里他可以一头 扎进人民群众的生活之中,自由地 确定他的创作方向,这种自由的状 态,为个人感情的抒发提供了一个 前提。
三是他能在作品中自然地融入 自己的思想感情,既有叙事又有抒 情。正如著名诗人艾青在延安时期 即指出的那样:“古元同志的艺术 是在边区成长起来的,他是边区生 活的歌手。”[4]“他的作品里所充 溢着的那些情调,是真实的生活的 情调,是亲切的人间的情调。”[5] 我们细看古元延安时期的许多作品 有一个总的特点,就是颂扬生活、 颂扬人民,作品的调子总是向上、 明快的,因此也就像一首优美的歌 曲一样,自然而然地进入抒情状 态。
四、极具特色的刀法美
古元木刻之美,是凭借了他的 刀法功夫而成的,而他的刀法又成 为他木刻艺术优美的风格之一。
1.大胆而准确是其刀法的基 调。从他的作品看,他在用刀上是 很大胆,看出他在创作前,已意在 刀先,一下刀即一刀接一刀,毫无 优柔寡断之感。古元之大胆用刀, 是他建立在对所反映的对象有着深 入而准确的认识基础之上,因此他 能做到造型准、结构准、内外轮廓 线准。他所刻画的人物,从面部到 姿态和衣服的衣纹,其刻出的线条 都很准确精到毫无含糊之处。
2.统一的刀法情调。古元是一 个很善于运用刀法来塑造形象的木 刻大家,他在刻制作品时,能以一 种刀法为主来统率全局,再配以其 他刀法,这就使他所刻出的画面有
一种形象丰富而又统一和谐的情 调,给人以赏心悦目的感觉。
3.运用不同刀法表现各种不同 的形态和质感。他的作品所反映的 主要是当时延安的农村生活,画面 中既有众多男女老少的人物,又有 农民喜爱的牲畜牛羊猪狗,还有人 们生活环境中的树木山水,他都能 从结构入手,用接近对象质感的刀 法,顺着对象结构或纹理组织的来 龙去脉用刀,作到既符合画理又木 味刀味鲜明,既内涵丰富又调子统 一,既有变化而又谐调,达到了生 动表现物象形态的目的。使观者一 见即犹如身临其境,爱不忍离。
古元的木刻艺术犹如一座耸 立在我国绘画艺术领域中的宝库, 其独特的艺术风格是我国当今美术 工作者需要长期深入探索的重要课 题,也只有这样才能从中得到借鉴 和启示。
注:
[1]古元:《在人民生活中吸取创作题 材》,《美术》1950年,第6期。[2]古元:《到“大鲁艺”去学习》,《美 术》1962年,第3期。[3]罗丹:《罗丹论艺术》,人民美术出 版社,1978年,第5页。[4]艾青:《第一日——略评“边区美协 一九四一年展览会”中的木刻》,《解放 日报》,1941年8月18日。[5]艾青:《蝉之歌》,内蒙古人民出版 社,1998年,第269页。
作者｜马建华（副教授 、延安大学鲁迅艺术学院副院长）
本文原发表于《美术研究》2018年04期
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CAFA Art Museum Publication Authorization Agreement
I fully agree to CAFA Art Museum (CAFAM) submitting to CAFA for publication the images, pictures, texts, writings, and event products (such as works created during participation in workshops) related to me from my participation in public events (including museum member events) organized by the CAFA Art Museum Public Education Department. CAFA can publish these materials by electronic, web, or other digital means, and I hereby agree to be included in the China Knowledge Resource Bank, the CAFA Database, the CAFA Art Museum Database, and related data, documentation, and filing institutions and platforms. Regarding their use in CAFA and dissemination on the internet, I agree to make use of these rights according to the stated Rules.
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This event was organized on the principles of fairness, impartiality, and voluntary participation and withdrawal. Participants undertake all risk and liability for themselves. All events have risks, and participants must be aware of the risks related to their chosen event.
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Event participants must abide by the laws and regulations of the People’s Republic of China, as well as moral and ethical norms. All participants must demonstrate good character, respect for others, friendship, and a willingness to help others.
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During the event, event participants should respect the order of the museum event and ensure the safety of the museum site, the artworks in displays, exhibitions, and collections, and the derived products. If an event causes any degree of loss or damage to the museum site, space, artworks, or derived products due to an individual, persons not involved in the accident and the museum do not undertake any liability for losses. The event participant must negotiate and provide compensation according to the relevant legal statutes and museum rules. The museum may sue for legal and financial liability.
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Event participants will participate in the event under the guidance of museum staff and event leaders or instructors and must correctly use the painting tools, materials, equipment, and/or facilities provided for the event. If a participant causes injury or harm to him/herself or others while using the painting tools, materials, equipment, and/or facilities, or causes the damage or destruction of the tools, materials, equipment, and/or facilities, the event participant must undertake all related liability and provide compensation for the financial losses. Persons not involved in the accident and the museum do not undertake any liability for personal accidents.
CAFA Art Museum Portraiture Rights Licensing Agreement
According to The Advertising Law of the People’s Republic of China, The General Principles of the Civil Law of the People’s Republic of China, and The Provisional Opinions of the Supreme People’s Court on Some Issues Related to the Full Implementation of the General Principles of the Civil Law of the People’s Republic of China, and upon friendly negotiation, Party A and Party B have arrived at the following agreement regarding the use of works bearing Party A’s image in order to clarify the rights and obligations of the portrait licenser (Party A) and the user (Party B):
I. General Provisions
(1) Party A is the portraiture rights holder in this agreement. Party A voluntarily licenses its portraiture rights to Party B for the purposes stipulated in this agreement and permitted by law.
(2) Party B (CAFA Art Museum) is a specialized, international modern art museum. CAFA Art Museum keeps pace with the times, and works to create an open, free, and academic space and atmosphere for positive interaction with groups, corporations, institutions, artists, and visitors. With CAFA’s academic research as a foundation, the museum plans multi-disciplinary exhibitions, conferences, and public education events with participants from around the world, providing a platform for exchange, learning, and exhibition for CAFA’s students and instructors, artists from around the world, and the general public. As a public institution, the primary purposes of CAFA Art Museum’s public education events are academic and beneficial to society.
(3) Party B will photograph all CAFA Public Education Department events for Party A.
II. Content, Forms of Use, and Geographical Scope of Use
(1) Content. The content of images taken by Party B bearing Party A’s likeness include: ① CAFA Art Museum ② CAFA campus ③ All events planned or executed by the CAFAM Public Education Department.
(2) Forms of Use. For use in CAFA’s publications, products with CDs, and promotional materials.
(3) Geographical Scope of Use
The applicable geographic scope is global.
The media in which the portraiture may be used encompasses any media that does not infringe upon Party A’s portraiture rights (e.g., magazines and the internet).
III. Term of Portraiture Rights Use
Use in perpetuity.
IV. Licensing Fees
The fees for images bearing Party A’s likeness will be undertaken by Party B.
After completion, Party B does not need to pay any fees to Party A for images bearing Party A’s likeness.
Additional Terms
(1) All matters not discussed in this agreement shall be resolved through friendly negotiation between both parties. Both parties may then sign a supplementary agreement, provided it does not violate any laws or regulations.
(2) This agreement comes into effect on the date that it is signed (sealed) and the relevant boxes are selected by Party A and Party B.
(3) This agreement exists in paper and electronic forms. The paper form is made in duplicate, with Party A and Party B each retaining one copy with the same legal efficacy.
Event participants implicitly accept and undertake all the obligations stated in this agreement. Those who do not consent will be seen as abandoning the right to participate in this event. Before participating in this event, please speak to your family members to obtain their consent and inform them of this disclaimer. After participants sign/check the required box, participants and their families will be seen as having read and agreed to these terms.
I have carefully read and agree to the above provisions.
CAFA Art Museum Publication Authorization Agreement
I fully agree to CAFA Art Museum (CAFAM) submitting to CAFA for publication the images, pictures, texts, writings, and event products (such as works created during participation in workshops) related to me from my participation in public events (including museum member events) organized by the CAFA Art Museum Public Education Department. CAFA can publish these materials by electronic, web, or other digital means, and I hereby agree to be included in the China Knowledge Resource Bank, the CAFA Database, the CAFA Art Museum Database, and related data, documentation, and filing institutions and platforms. Regarding their use in CAFA and dissemination on the internet, I agree to make use of these rights according to the stated Rules.
CAFA Art Museum Event Safety Disclaimer
Article I
This event was organized on the principles of fairness, impartiality, and voluntary participation and withdrawal. Participants undertake all risk and liability for themselves. All events have risks, and participants must be aware of the risks related to their chosen event.
Article II
Event participants must abide by the laws and regulations of the People’s Republic of China, as well as moral and ethical norms. All participants must demonstrate good character, respect for others, friendship, and a willingness to help others.
Article III
Event participants should be adults (people 18 years or older with full civil legal capacity). Underage persons must be accompanied by an adult.
Article IV
Event participants undertake all liability for their personal safety during the event, and event participants are encouraged to purchase personal safety insurance. Should an accident occur during an event, persons not involved in the accident and the museum do not undertake any liability for the accident, but both have the obligation to provide assistance. Event participants should actively organize and implement rescue efforts, but do not undertake any legal or economic liability for the accident itself. The museum does not undertake civil or joint liability for the personal safety of event participants.
Article V
During the event, event participants should respect the order of the museum event and ensure the safety of the museum site, the artworks in displays, exhibitions, and collections, and the derived products. If an event causes any degree of loss or damage to the museum site, space, artworks, or derived products due to an individual, persons not involved in the accident and the museum do not undertake any liability for losses. The event participant must negotiate and provide compensation according to the relevant legal statutes and museum rules. The museum may sue for legal and financial liability.
Article VI
Event participants will participate in the event under the guidance of museum staff and event leaders or instructors and must correctly use the painting tools, materials, equipment, and/or facilities provided for the event. If a participant causes injury or harm to him/herself or others while using the painting tools, materials, equipment, and/or facilities, or causes the damage or destruction of the tools, materials, equipment, and/or facilities, the event participant must undertake all related liability and provide compensation for the financial losses. Persons not involved in the accident and the museum do not undertake any liability for personal accidents.
CAFA Art Museum Portraiture Rights Licensing Agreement
According to The Advertising Law of the People’s Republic of China, The General Principles of the Civil Law of the People’s Republic of China, and The Provisional Opinions of the Supreme People’s Court on Some Issues Related to the Full Implementation of the General Principles of the Civil Law of the People’s Republic of China, and upon friendly negotiation, Party A and Party B have arrived at the following agreement regarding the use of works bearing Party A’s image in order to clarify the rights and obligations of the portrait licenser (Party A) and the user (Party B):
I. General Provisions
(1) Party A is the portraiture rights holder in this agreement. Party A voluntarily licenses its portraiture rights to Party B for the purposes stipulated in this agreement and permitted by law.
(2) Party B (CAFA Art Museum) is a specialized, international modern art museum. CAFA Art Museum keeps pace with the times, and works to create an open, free, and academic space and atmosphere for positive interaction with groups, corporations, institutions, artists, and visitors. With CAFA’s academic research as a foundation, the museum plans multi-disciplinary exhibitions, conferences, and public education events with participants from around the world, providing a platform for exchange, learning, and exhibition for CAFA’s students and instructors, artists from around the world, and the general public. As a public institution, the primary purposes of CAFA Art Museum’s public education events are academic and beneficial to society.
(3) Party B will photograph all CAFA Public Education Department events for Party A.
II. Content, Forms of Use, and Geographical Scope of Use
(1) Content. The content of images taken by Party B bearing Party A’s likeness include: ① CAFA Art Museum ② CAFA campus ③ All events planned or executed by the CAFAM Public Education Department.
(2) Forms of Use. For use in CAFA’s publications, products with CDs, and promotional materials.
(3) Geographical Scope of Use
The applicable geographic scope is global.
The media in which the portraiture may be used encompasses any media that does not infringe upon Party A’s portraiture rights (e.g., magazines and the internet).
III. Term of Portraiture Rights Use
Use in perpetuity.
IV. Licensing Fees
The fees for images bearing Party A’s likeness will be undertaken by Party B.
After completion, Party B does not need to pay any fees to Party A for images bearing Party A’s likeness.
Additional Terms
(1) All matters not discussed in this agreement shall be resolved through friendly negotiation between both parties. Both parties may then sign a supplementary agreement, provided it does not violate any laws or regulations.
(2) This agreement comes into effect on the date that it is signed (sealed) and the relevant boxes are selected by Party A and Party B.
(3) This agreement exists in paper and electronic forms. The paper form is made in duplicate, with Party A and Party B each retaining one copy with the same legal efficacy.
Event participants implicitly accept and undertake all the obligations stated in this agreement. Those who do not consent will be seen as abandoning the right to participate in this event. Before participating in this event, please speak to your family members to obtain their consent and inform them of this disclaimer. After participants sign/check the required box, participants and their families will be seen as having read and agreed to these terms.
I have carefully read and agree to the above provisions.
