Found In The Collection Master

Xiao Junxian is one of the best painting and calligraphy artists and art educators during the period of the late Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China, especially in his outstanding landscape paintings and educational achievements in Chinese paintings. One cannot talk about modern art history without mentioning Xiao Junxian. However, due to the lack of in-depth academic research over a long period of time, Xiao Junxian’s artistic achievement has not be properly evaluated, and it is "easily forgotten" along the history. In this paper, Xiao Junxian’s 44 original paintings and calligraphies collected by Hunan Provincial Museum are examined. They have never been researched before. Multi-disciplinary theories in the fields of fine arts, history, sociology, culturology, museology, Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy identification, etc are employed. Many methods are adopted in this research, including literature textual criticism, image comparison, style analysis, data statistics, investigation and survey, and oral interviews. The content of this paper goes beyond the mere study of the appreciation of his paintings and calligraphies or biographical study of the artist. Instead, a unique perspective similar to the "archaeological report" is adopted. Part One focuses on identification and collection history, interpretation of seals and inscriptions, and classification, periodization and style research regarding Xiao’s works. Hence, a reliable catalogue of Xiao’s genuine works can be made, so as to enable the public to know the features, connotations, achievements and the unique value of Xiao’s works collected by this museum. Part Two expands the research scope, and places works of Xiao and his art of calligraphy and painting in the context of the entire modern art history, so as to reveal the objective relationships among Xiao Junxian’s art and his personal identity, career, friends, family, personality, and thought. In-depth analysis of the impact of modern social and art movements and the artistic system (consisting of exhibition, publishing, market, etc.) on Xiao Junxian’s art is conducted. Thus, a real and full Xiao Junxian is revealed through the examination of his works collected by this museum. Xiao should not be forgotten:Xiao Junxian is one of the few modern Chinese painting masters whose possess versatile artistic talent and distinctive style. What merits special notice is that he creates a unique schema language in landscape painting, which reveals his extraordinary artistic talent and brings about profound impact in the art field. He has reached a very high level. He becomes one of the most accomplished masters during the transitional period of Chinese traditional landscape painting to modern landscape painting in the first half of the 20th century. As a pioneer committed to modern Chinese painting education and to modern fine arts college education, Xiao Junxian has exerted profound influence on Chinese modern art education with his pratice and theory that combine tradition and modernity. Xiao’s art works bear witness to the tumultuous years in China from the late Qing dynasty to the Republic of China. Hence, as a case study, this paper is of wider significance. It has become part of the vivid and complex modern Chinese history of fine arts. Moreover, the phenomenon that works by famous masters like Xiao are forgotten along history is attributed to more complicated historical factors. The assessment mechanism of the modern fine arts manifested in this case study is worth further exploration and investigation.