Realistic Real Reality

The methodology of Realisticism, which derives from European Realism movement in the 19th century, once was the mainstream in Chinese painting. Inasmuch as Chinese Realisticism Painting is most of all an instrument for the construction of public value system, realists' pursuit of truth and reality was altogether lost in our context. Consequently, Chinese Realisticism painting is too busy with transforming the subject matter to give methodology a thought. Not only does the circumstance result in narrow and one-sided understanding of Realism, but it also indicates that Realisticism painting is at a loss in the Age of Image.This thesis intends to trace back to Realism at the beginning of modern painting in 19th century, to exam the methodology in Chinese Realisticism painting, and to explore new possibilities for Chinese painting to continue and develop. Exploring methodology eventually gives rise to the problem of truth theory in painting, which in turn avails painters to trudge out of the moor of"what one can do in Age of Image".This thesis consists of three parts. The first part is to delineate transmutation of Realism in China, to exam Chinese Realisticism Painting. The second part aims to re-discover and understand Realists' original intention by means of surveying Realism movement in the 19th century. The third part discuses the internal continuity from Realism to figurative expressionism, and explores possibilities for paintings to survive in the Age of Image.This thesis argues that Realism at the beginning of modern painting is not merely about"realisticness", which is to say, Realism portrays contemporary life, fights against corrupt convention and politics. Moreover, the methodology of Realism connotes"realisticity", which concentrates on"what the eye sees". Realism brings"present"and sensory data into traditional painting which abides by the idea of"correspondent"is"true".Contemporary Expression Figurative inherits truth-pursuing idea which Realists hold dear, yet not stick to the beaten track. Contemporary Expression Figurative attempts to explore artistic truth from ontological perspective. Lying in the heart of Contemporary Expression Figurative is the reflection of"how the eye sees"and"what the eye sees", the suspension of preconception, and the perfection of perception by way of construction of horizon in intuition. The method of promoting seeing to"thought of seeing"challenges traditional dualistic way of seeing. In so doing, this method opens up a new route for ongoing development of painting.In a nutshell,"Realisticism"is an outflow of"Realism"which values realistic subject matters, being an application of Realism in reality."Realisticity"is not what Realisticity is in the sense of traditional lifelike, it is what the Realisticity is in realism. Its focus is here and now, is what one sees and senses, per se. The truth theory in traditional painting marries correspondence theory; whereas the"truth"which Contemporary Expression Figurative pursues is not based on correspondence theory.