As a member of the Qing Imperial family (his great grandfather was the Daoguang emperor), Pu Ru’s original surname was Aixinjueluo. His other name is Xinyu, while his sobriquets include Yihuang Shangren and Xishan Yishi. Said to be a precocious child, Pu learnt calligraphy at the age of 4, and by 7, he could write poetry. He only began painting at the age of 20. His foundation in painting and calligraphy is largely derived from copying authentic and exquisite works found in the imperial collection. However, he professed to have excelled in the classics and poetry instead of calligraphy and painting (which he had ranked last in his personal assessment of his abilities).Pu’s most distinctive landscape paintings are those of the blue and green style. In these, the decorative appeal normally associated with the blue and green style has been discarded and replaced by a crisp elegance.
