This set of stamps features three works by Pu Hsin-yu, which were recommended by the National Palace Museum in Taipei. Pu Hsin-yu (1896-1963) was born to the Manchu royal family of the Ching dynasty(1644-1911). From early boyhood, he received a Confucian education and vigorous training in the fine arts. He was also sent to Germany to pursue Western learning, and earned doctoral degrees in astronomy and biology at the University of Berlin.
In his thirties, Pu gave up scientific studies and devoted himself to Chinese literature, calligraphy and painting. He was soon recognized as the equal of the famous painter Chang Ta-chien (1899-1983). Versatile in all the traditional styles of Chinese painting, Pu moved freely from the impressionistic〝idea-writing〞 of the literati to the meticulous academic kung-pi style. Pu excelled in landscape and figures, loved subjects which included birds, flowers, ghost stories and folk themes; the last two he often handled with satiric touches. His brushwork is robust yet tender and refined, imbued with gracefulness.
He was also known as a talented poet and master of Chinese calligraphy. He believed that the qualities derived from literature, poetic, historical and calligraphical studies provide vision and technique fundamental to a painter.