Shanghai Art Chronicle

Author: Xu Changming, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-12-01
Features: The first comprehensive and systematic local art history of Shanghai, titled Shanghai Art History, has been published recently by Shanghai Fine Arts Publishing House. The book covers the history of the current administrative region of Shanghai, starting from the Majiabang Culture and Songze Culture periods dating back to 4000 BCE, and ending in the year 2000, spanning a history of six thousand years. Following the conventions of the art discipline, the book categorizes and compiles various art phenomena in art history, marking the first time it has been studied as thematic history, divided into five volumes and twenty-three chapters. The five volumes are: Art Creation and Design, Art Education and Research (including publications and periodicals), Art Exhibitions and Markets, Art Institutions and Associations, and Figures. The twenty-three chapters are: Chinese Painting, Calligraphy, Seal Carving, Oil Painting, Watercolor, Gouache, Printmaking, Sculpture, Architectural Art, Comic Art, New Year Pictures, Comic Strips, Propaganda Posters, Children's Art, Craftsmanship and Folk Art, Art Design (including five sections: Advertising Poster Design, Product Modeling and Packaging Design, Textile Pattern Design, Book Cover Design, and Interior Design), Art Films, Stage Design, Art Education, Art Theory, Art Publications (including 96 types), Art Periodicals (including 177 journals and 47 art supplements in newspapers), 310 institutions and associations, and 561 biographies of figures (including introductions of living authors). The book opens with 303 exquisite color photographs of artworks, followed by a preface titled General Overview, and concludes with two appendices: a list of works awarded municipal, national, and international awards over the years, and a chronicle of art events. Compiled and edited by 40 experts over 14 years, the book features meticulous research, clarifying many previous misconceptions, and includes valuable illustrations and photographs. Many contents are published for the first time, and the book ends with Main References, demonstrating strong academic rigor. The Table of Contents and Index of Terms by Stroke Order are clearly written and highly practical. The full book contains 1.35 million words, is published in a 16-page hardcover edition, and is priced at 180 yuan. It serves as an essential reference and textbook for understanding and studying the six thousand years of Shanghai art, as well as the Shanghai School of Painting and the calligraphy scene.