别开生面 — “To create an entirely new style, form, or situation”

Cao Ba, a renowned painter of the Tang Dynasty, excelled at painting figures and horses. His reputation reached the capital, Chang'an, and even Emperor Xuanzong in the palace learned of him. The Emperor often summoned him to Xingqing Palace to paint on the spot, showering him with generous rewards. Due to the Emperor's favor, princes, nobles, and officials in Chang'an considered it an honor to possess his paintings, acquiring his works at high prices.

To the north of Chang'an, in Taichi Palace, stood the famous Lingyan Pavilion. Its walls were adorned with portraits of the twenty-four founding功臣 (meritorious officials) of the Tang Dynasty. These portraits, painted over seventy years prior by the famous artist Yan Liben, had largely faded and peeled over time, losing their lifelike quality and becoming difficult to discern. For this reason, Emperor Xuanzong summoned Cao Ba and instructed him to repaint them. Repainting the功臣 portraits was no easy task. Cao Ba delved into numerous historical records, compared them with the dimly visible portraits, meticulously pondered and conceived, and then applied his brush. Soon, the twenty-four功臣 portraits regained their brilliance, presented to the people in a brand-new style.

Cao Ba was adept at both painting figures and horses. On one occasion, Xuanzong summoned Cao Ba to the palace and had his favorite horse, a famous steed named 'Jade Flower Charger' (玉花骢), brought in, commissioning Cao Ba to paint it. Cao Ba instructed his attendants to paste a huge white silk scroll onto the palace wall, then spent a long time observing the Jade Flower Charger. Turning around, he swiftly wielded his ink brush. Before long, the majestic and spirited Jade Flower Charger appeared on the white silk. The more Xuanzong looked, the more pleased he became, immediately ordering attendants to bestow many gold and silk rewards upon Cao Ba, and even appointed him as General of the Left Wuwei.

However, good times did not last. After Xuanzong appointed powerful officials like Li Linfu and Yang Guozhong, he indulged in pleasures and extravagance, neglecting state affairs for extended periods. Cao Ba was summoned less and less to the palace for painting. Later, he was stripped of his official position and demoted to a commoner for a minor offense, forcing him to leave Chang'an.

In 755 AD, An Lushan and Shi Siming launched a rebellion, and Xuanzong fled to Sichuan. Cao Ba also wandered to Chengdu, making a living by painting portraits for passersby on the street, his later years extremely desolate. One day, the famous poet Du Fu arrived in Chengdu. At a friend's house, he saw Cao Ba's painting, 'Nine Horses', and learned that the once-renowned painter was also in Chengdu. He immediately set out to find him. After many inquiries, he finally found Cao Ba on the street. Learning of Cao Ba's background and misfortunes, Du Fu was deeply sympathetic and moved.

He wrote a poem for him, which included these two lines: “凌烟功臣少颜色，将军下笔开生面。” (The功臣 portraits in Lingyan Pavilion lacked their former brilliance; it was by your hand, General, that they regained their vibrancy.) These lines mean that the功臣 portraits in Lingyan Pavilion had lost their former vivid colors, and it was thanks to General Cao Ba's brush that they were given a new, lively appearance.