On the Form and Aesthetics of Line in Chinese Painting

Chinese portrait painting drawn with lines is known as the line-drawing,namely sketching with a very small brush with a sharp tip.Line-drawing is one of the features of Chinese painting.The use of lines is the basic feature of Chinese portrait painting.Lines are the basic form and major means of traditional Chinese painting.The arrangement and order of lines in line-drawing reveals not only the ability and cultivation,but also the techniques of the painter.Lines have their own rules and requirements,which serve as beauty of arts.