The Versatile Master Artist

Chapter 92 - 81: The Impressionism Painting Saint and Vulgar Tabloids (Part 2)

...In response to this, the artist Van Doorn offered a different perspective.

"This is a complete farce." Mr. Fandorn commented, "Cheap online painters have no artistic viewpoint of their own; they are just ruthless photocopiers without any art understanding. Even a trained monkey can play Do-Re-Mi-Fa-So-La-Ti on a piano, but does that mean they understand music?"...

...Faced with Miss Elina’s criticism of his own work, Mr. Fandorn showed considerable magnanimity.

"She is just too young. Besides a pretty face, what else does she have? Art requires experience." Van Doorn said, "I am only saddened by the degeneration of magazine. It’s such a pity; hiring such an art judge will ruin this historical magazine. I think she would be more fitting as a model for body art."

From here on, the content of the newspaper became quite vulgar.

Van Doorn’s previously controversial statement that "women are merely tools to inspire my creative desires" was not unfounded.

He is French and, like many French artists influenced by the trend of body creativity, loves to paint nudes.

Anna gazed coldly as the newspaper editor placed several of Van Doorn’s previous nude sketches next to her photograph.

dubbed itself as a vase role akin to soccer babes and race babes, bestowing the title "artistic babe," with great effort hinting to readers that she attained the position of senior writer at magazine due to her advantages in physical appeal.

What’s more infuriating is,

Moonlight News’ legal department is clearly aware of the boundaries of defamation.

At the very end of the article, the tone took another turn, maintaining a vulgar tone with the banter.

"...In fact, through our understanding, Miss Elina’s ancestor was once the founder of magazine, so it’s obvious how she became an art critic.

She is even a female ’Count.’ Such a noble lady, no matter how beautiful the appearance, has no relation to ordinary people. Single men whose hearts stir can only console themselves in lonely nights with photographs. But there is no need to regret, because I guess, for very obvious reasons, she would be quite boring in bed..."

...

"This is outrageous!"

Yangon.

After reading the report, Gu Weijing put down the phone heavily, exclaiming angrily.

This prompted the taxi driver to turn around and glance at him curiously. "Are you alright?"

"I’m fine."

Gu Weijing waved to the taxi driver to continue driving calmly.

Today, he planned to visit the local Myanmar book and painting market.

That day, after Gu Weijing fainted, he was only discovered hours later by his family.

It is said that when discovered, Gu Weijing looked pale, with teeth clenched and his clothes stained with blood, his whole body slightly trembling.

This frightened Gu Tongxiang, who thought the grandson had a seizure, took him to Yangon City’s hospital where two bottles of glucose brought him around.

Brain CT and MRI were done, and the doctors did not find any major problems, only determining it was a temporary insufficient blood supply to the brain, prescribing medication to nourish the nerves, observed overnight, then sent home.

Yet Gu Weijing discovered a task prompt had appeared on his task panel.

[Impressionism Limited Task — Ray Noa’s Legacy]

[Current Task: Choose to replicate an Impressionist Oil Painting Technique Level 7 Tier One Grandmaster’s work]

[Task Rewards]

[1. Achieve 20% likeness in replication to get a Basic Treasure Chest.]

[2. Achieve 50% likeness in replication to get an Intermediate Treasure Chest.]

[3. Achieve 90% likeness in replication to get the limited reward: Ray Noa - Human World’s Hundred Ghosts Fragment, this reward can only be acquired once.]

"This task..."

That day he appraised the famous painting and fainted halfway through.

Gu Weijing hadn’t even seen the digital map numbers floating above the computer screen at the time.

Now he carefully recalls the last glance before he fainted.

Gu Weijing vaguely remembered that the data panel of the painting faintly showed not Level of expertise but two words.

... Painting Saint?

Having paid such a high price, and spent a night in the hospital, the limited task he triggered finally came belatedly.

This is a replication task, requiring Gu Weijing to replicate an Impressionist piece reaching Level 7 Grandmaster Tier One.

Impressionist works are not easy to find.

Modern painters don’t stick rigidly to a particular art style. Even those specializing in Impressionism capable of reaching Grandmaster Tier One, their works wouldn’t be cheap.

He planned to try his luck at the Myanmar book and painting market first.

Painting and antiques are different. Yuan medieval blue and white porcelain is of great value as long as it is genuine, but in the painting market, the quality of the painting doesn’t necessarily equate to its monetary value.

Myanmar has a considerable number of affordable old paintings.

Not only are there artworks from various dynasties in Dongxia style, but there are also many Western pieces.

Especially in the 19th century, when it was a trade hub as a British colony, it was among Asia’s most prosperous cities.

In terms of prosperity, it compares with Tokyo and Shanghai of the same era and is a famous Southeast Asian holiday destination.

Many famous British artists and writers came to Myanmar.

And with large numbers of colonial officials, senior priests, and their families moving to Myanmar, many European artworks flowed in.