Line Rendering and Iconic Reconstruction in the Realistic Formation of Contemporary Ink Figure Painting

Abstract

While inheriting the spirit of traditional brushwork, contemporary ink figure painting continuously incorporates Western concepts of realistic modeling, forming a unique visual language system. This paper adopts a formal analysis approach, focusing on line expression as a core element to explore its functional evolution and aesthetic transformation within realistic modeling, and further analyzes how lines participate in the process of reconstructing the imagery of the painting. The study argues that the line in contemporary ink figure painting has evolved from the traditional “bone-like brushwork” into a multifaceted expressive system that combines figurative functions with independent aesthetic value, forming a unique “realistic imagery” in terms of character modeling, spatial structure, and emotional expression. The organic integration of the calligraphic, expressive, and modeling qualities of the line ensures both the objective authenticity of the figure and preserves the independent character of the ink-wash language, ultimately achieving an aesthetic realm “between likeness and abstraction.”