New Moon Like Water: Records of Friendships and Interactions with Cao Zikai

Author: Chen Xing
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-09-01
Features: A few sparse strokes of ink depict a scroll with woven reed curtains, a small table placed by the veranda, a pot and several cups on the table, and a crescent moon in the sky—Zheng Zhenduo reviews Feng Zikai's cartoons. Feng Zikai (1898–1975) was from Shimen Town, Zhejiang Province (now part of Tongxiang City). In 1914, he studied under Li Shuxun. In 1922, he began publishing cartoons and later became famous as "Zikai Cartoons." His prose is simple, fluent, and philosophical, with representative works such as (Notes from the Yuyuan Studio). After 1949, he held positions such as President of the Shanghai Fine Arts Association, the first Director of the Shanghai Chinese Painting Institute, and a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. Throughout his life, Feng Zikai interacted with many cultural figures, and this book records and reflects on only a portion of those interactions. Some figures who should appear in this book, such as Ba Jin, Mao Dun, and Zhang Leping, were not included due to insufficient material collection and limited writing time. We kindly ask for the readers' understanding. As for foreign artists who had a profound influence on Feng Zikai's artistic creation, they are included as an appendix in this book.