The Integration of Foreign Influences in Dunhuang Art during the Sui and Early Tang Dynasties
Many of the painted statues from the Sui dynasty at Dunhuang were influenced by the Indian Gupta style of art.By the beginning of the Tang dynasty,Chinese artistic techniques in statuary and painting had formed a cogent style with recognizable characteristics that maintained a realism of depiction while also reflecting avivid spirit of vitality.One notable feature of artwork from this period was a haloing technique typical of Indian art that was often used to illustrate figures during the Sui and early Tang dynasties;compared to murals from the Northern Dynasties,this method is more similar to Indian painting.This indicates that many painters at the time were already well-studied in foreign styles of painting.However,as Chinese art continued to develop throughout the early Tang dynasty,artists continuously modified the haloing technique until it was perfectly combined with traditional Chinese line drawing.From the decorative patterns in the murals of this period,we can also see the transformation of various other foreign artistic tropes,including patterns of linked pearls,pomegranates,and grapes.By the middle of the Tang dynasty,several artistic methods and themes from other countries had been fully integrated into the diverse patterns of Tang dynasty religious art.
Dunhuang artSui and Tang dynastyIndiaCentral Plainshaloing technique
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