胡也佛（1908-1980）是20世纪中国画坛的著名工笔画家，以精致的仕女画和人物画著称，奠定了其在海派艺术中的地位。他的艺术创作深受明代仇英的影响，尤其擅长运用“铁线游丝”般的精细线条，在作品中呈现出严谨而生动的造型。他的画作不仅继承了传统的工笔风格，还融入了自身的创新，使作品兼具精工与韵味。晚年在朵云轩期间，胡也佛得以临摹大量古画真迹，作品风格进一步严谨沉稳，展现出高度的笔墨技艺。
胡也佛的线条表现极富层次感，超越了纯粹的形态描绘，达到了情感表达的高度。例如在《牧牛图》中，他通过细致、柔和的笔触勾勒出两头牛的形态，同时营造出牠们之间微妙的互动关系。画中笔线如烟如缕，既精准地捕捉了牛的形象，又利用线条的流动性表达出暧昧含蓄的情绪，显示出画家对线条张力与造型精准度的高超掌握。胡也佛通过对笔墨的探索，使得其作品在造型与意境上达到了高度的统一，成为20世纪工笔画的典范之作。


Hu Yefu (1908-1980) was a celebrated 20th-century Chinese painter known for his meticulous gongbi style, particularly in portraits of elegant women and figures, which helped establish his place in the Shanghai School. Influenced by Ming dynasty painter Qiu Ying, Hu perfected the use of fine, iron-wire-like lines to create precise, lively forms. His paintings combine traditional gongbi techniques with his own innovations, achieving both technical skill and a distinct artistic flair. In his later years at Duoyunxuan, he studied many authentic ancient paintings, which brought greater depth and stability to his work, showcasing his mastery of brush and ink.

Hu Yefu’s linework is remarkably layered, conveying subtle emotion beyond mere form. In Oxherding, for example, he uses gentle, flowing lines to capture the form of an ox and a cow, depicting a quiet intimacy between them. His brushstrokes, soft and smoke-like, precisely define their figures, while the fluid lines hint at a delicate connection, revealing Hu’s skill in expressing mood through form. Through this deep exploration of brush and ink, Hu achieved a unified balance of structure and atmosphere, setting a high standard for gongbi painting in the 20th century.