Shanghai Memory Zhang Leping's Brushes: The 1930s

Author: Ding Yanzhao, Yu Zhiwen
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-08-01
Features: Revisiting the Sanmao illustrations from the 1930s, with exaggeration in moderation and powerful lines. Zhang Leping's artistic achievements in drawing are second to none in China's comic art. When it comes to the artistic vitality of Chinese comic characters, Sanmao is the longest-lasting one. — Ye Gang
Nowadays, many nostalgic elders say Shanghai is half of China, and they especially regard the 1930s as the golden age of old Shanghai. — Wei Shaocang
Zhang Leping's comic works from the 1930s cover a wide range of social topics. They reflect the myriad aspects of urban life, exposing the ugliness of the old society and its characters, such as thugs, petty thieves, beggars, prostitutes, socialites, high-ranking officials, foreign sailors, and police officers. — Ding Jingtang
The father's works collected in this book were previously included in his early comic collections Urban Scenery, The Bomb Without Eyes, and The Orphan. — Zhang Weijun
This book presents Zhang Leping's early comics to the readers in commemoration of him. It collects 21 "Sanmao" illustrations by Zhang Leping from before the 1930s, accompanied by insightful commentary. Additionally, it includes a large number of Zhang Leping's comics from 70 years ago that depict urban life in Shanghai. These vivid illustrations allow readers to understand the various aspects of old Shanghai in the 1930s from multiple perspectives, while also fully and comprehensively showcasing Zhang Leping's artistic achievements in comics. This part is also being presented to the public for the first time, divided into three aspects:
1. Based on Zhang Leping's old comics, 88 articles written by authors Ding Yanzhao and Yu Zhi are paired with over 100 comic illustrations. Zhang Leping's lively comics allow us to vividly understand old Shanghai, while the authors' text expands and enriches our knowledge;
2. 51 unaccompanied urban-scenery comics by Zhang Leping are collected;
3. Six illustrations created by Zhang Leping for novels by writers such as Lin Huiyin are also included.