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Hi everyone, this is the first time I post here.

I have two plum paintings so similar that a coincidence in composition is almost impossible, especially since both of the painter are contemporary. One is an ink painting from Pu Ru, the other an ink and colour from Zhang Daqian. Anyone know the story behind those paintings? It's just another case of Zhang plagiaring another painter?

All coments are welcomed.
Thanks,
F.

Nice post. Yes, I think you are right.

The inscription states that the Zhang picture (the painting with color) was painted in 1983 if we take the 72nd year as written and convert that to the calendar used on Taiwan (1911=year 1). 1983 was also the year of Zhang's death. I don't know what his paintings were like that year, but since Pu Ru died in 1963, the chances are rather high that this picture is based on the Pu Ru picture.

The Zhang picture includes a dedication to someone on their birthday but doesn't mention the Pu Ru picture that I can see. The Pu Ru picture seems to include a poetic couplet plus signature but no date.

A closeup of the Pu Ru picture is here:
https://www.google.com/imgres?imgrefurl=http://halloftreasure.com/?p=120&tbnid=dI-boKK-mkDW0M:&docid=K2oWaZav9K1eAM&h=1000&w=1629#h=1000&imgrc=dI-boKK-mkDW0M:&w=1629

The Zhang Daqian is available as a print here:
http://www.comuseum.com/product/zhang-daqian-plum-blossoms-in-spring/

This is more of an example of 2 artists working
on the same theme, like 2 different jazz artists
performing the same riff, but in their own
unique voice. Zhang Daqian and Pu Ru often
collaborated on works of art.

I agree with John R's characterization above; it is misleading and unduly negative to limit our interpretation of Zhang's painting as being "plagiarism"

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