j Confucius Institute - Budapest, Hungary

Confucius Institute - Budapest, Hungary

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The Colors of Chinese Landscape Paintings

2022. October 07.

How long did it take for a painter to become a master of landscape painting? What are the typical features of landscape paintings? Janisz Horváth gave answers to these questions in his lecture, which was held on October 7 at the ELTE Confucius Institute.

Janisz Horváth is a painter and calligrapher, as well as a teacher of art at the ELTE Confucius Institute, where he holds three different classes on calligraphy and painting.


During his lecture, Janisz pointed out the interesting fact that the colors of Chinese paintings seem less colorful to Europeans. For example, they perceive the paintings’ red seals as the most colorful. The paintings’ big empty spaces are also important for the piece of art to reach a balance.

The Hungarian calligrapher explained that Chinese painters never depicted nature in exact detail. They rather became inspired in nature, and after returning from it, later painted their masterpieces at home.


Chinese landscape painting is often called “mountain and water paintings.” There is always a combination of mountains and a river or lake in the paintings, in which the mountains are depicted with detail while the water is shown by the emptiness of the space.


Chinese painters mastered their knowledge of painting towards the end of their lives. They were often calligraphers as well, sometimes even good poets, and by this talent they gained huge reputations in society.


Written by: Enikő Gájász
Translated by: Zsuzsanna Hamar
Photos: Enikő Gájász


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