Great Art Study Room History of Modern Chinese Painting -- The Late Qing Dynasty: History of Modern Chinese Painting

Author: Li Zhujin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-08-01
Features: In the study of Chinese painting history, the late Qing period has long been neglected. There are many reasons for this. , the division of the late Qing period has never been definitively established. It could either start after the reign of Emperor Qianlong, i.e., from 1796, including the reigns of Jiaqing, Daoguang, Xianfeng, Tongzhi, Guangxu, and Xuantong, until 1911 when the Republic of China was established; or it could start after the Opium War in 1840, when China was continuously invaded by Western countries and Japan, until the establishment of the Republic of China. Second, the late Qing period is not only considered a time of decline for the Qing Dynasty itself but also a disgraceful and dishonorable period in Chinese history. Third, during the late Qing period, China began to experience a comprehensive impact from Western culture, with traditional cultural values and concepts facing unprecedented threats. Fourth, influenced by Western and former Soviet historical perspectives and methodologies, late Qing painting has long been viewed as "a reflection of historical decline." As a result, this period has rarely been the subject of specialized research. Although late Qing painting has only recently gained attention, its proximity to the present has left a vast number of surviving artworks, along with extensive records of painters and other related activities. These have long been systematically collected and organized, yet they were often overlooked by museums and collectors. However, in recent years, especially on the mainland of China, many artworks have been incorporated into museum collections, and information about painters and related materials has been published. In Taiwan, Hong Kong, and overseas, they have also attracted the attention of collectors and museums. Therefore, in the future study of Chinese art history, late Qing painting will gradually gain more importance. It is hoped that this book can serve as a bridge to promote the development of this field.