Li Ruinian Studies

This is the first academic paper which conducts a comprehensive study onLi Ruinian.By collecting a variety of related documents,interviews and other materials of Li Ruinian,this paper reviews his life and states the time background he lived in.By looking back on his experience,the paper discusses a series of core issues arising in the early phase of Chinese oil painting development,such as the battle between"new school" and "Realism","Critique of impressionism","the study of Russian Art"and "oil painting nationalization",it also discusses Li Ruinian's response and choice under these background.The paper is aiming at reweave once marginalized Li Ruinian into the portraits of the artists in his age by studying the characteristics of his art and find the value of his art under the specific time.Li Ruinian was affected by the European school of traditional art and his landscape painting is very unique.He insisted that the "the principle of realism is the art of wisdom" and attached the utmost importance to his own artistic accomplishment and artistic value.He made great efforts to explore the perfect combination of "artistry" and "authenticity",and consciously pursuit the "state" which was in accordance with Chinese audience appreciation habits in his landscape painting.Li Ruinian has his own independent opinions about "realism" and "oil painting nationalization" and put his idea into his art practice.In conclusion,Li Ruinian's thought and his landscape painting has reached the highest level of Chinese oil painting of his time.