A Study Of Shanghai Painting Association In The Republic Of China(1912-1937)

During the period of the Republic of China,the Shanghai Painting Society rose rapidly and became a unique landscape in the history of Chinese art.During the process of germinating,growing,prosperity and decline,the Shanghai Painting Association has witnessed the historical track of the development and change of Shanghai Painting industry in the Republic of China,which played a significant role in the art of the Republic of China.There has been a cultural tradition of “being associated with friends through literature” among Chinese gifted literati since ancient times.The phenomenon of “gathering to creation in ten days or one month” is an elegant group art activity among Chinese literati.In ancient times,the main form of literati's elegant gatherings are represented by making sightseeing,expressing the inner world through writing and drawing and appreciating others' literary fiction.During the process of creation,the main theme is to compose poems and characteristics are self—entertainment and likely to follow their inclinations,which belong to the loose combination of like—minded people.After entering modern times,Shanghai Painting community began to rise with the following reasons: the invasion of western powers and the introduction of western learning into the east as the external cause,domestic major events and political changes as the internal cause and regional economic and cultural advantages.In Shanghai before the Qing Dynasty died in 1911,the collection of literati was still continuing.However,there were a few painting societies with commercial atmosphere.Shanghai Painting Association has experienced two stages since the Republic of China: the primary stage and the prosperous.From 1912 to 1928,the traditional art concept and painting art were impact by the New Culture Movement(around the time of the May 4th Movement in 1919).A group of overseas students returned from overseas and actively participated in painting creation,and so a group of painting societies were born.Most of these societies draw lessons from the west such as making rules,setting up institutions and carrying out activities,which show the characteristics of modern Western societies.However,in this period,the number of Shanghai Painting societies was not large,and the long—term ones were few.From 1929 to 1937,with the accumulation and growth of a large number of painting talents,Shanghai painting society entered a prosperous period.During this time,there were a large number of painting societies,among which there were many painting societies with long duration and great influence,such as Juelan society.The painting societies in Shanghai in the Republic of China not only included Western painting societies,but also had Chinese painting societies.Besides,there was a large amount of societies pursuing “integration of Chinese and Western culture”.Most of these painting societies were forced to stop after the entire outbreak of the Japanese War of Aggression Against ChinaSince the establishment,the Shanghai Painting Association has carried out a lot of activities: establishing journals,publishing books,holding annual meetings,organizing speeches and holding painting exhibitions.In addition,it also actively assisted in carrying out the relief work after disasters and propagandizing people to take part in the war of resistance against Japan.The activities carried out by the painting associations have made outstanding contributions to the formation of painting “institutionalization”.During the Republic of China,many of the painting societies in Shanghai were born from schools,such as Zhenqing society,Oriental painting society,Tianma society and Mo society,which were born in Shanghai Art College,time art society and China left—wing Artists Union which were born in China University of art,etc.Talent — intensive art schools have become fertile ground for the breeding of painting associations.Morning Light,Art Garden,White Goose Painting Association and other painting societies devoted themselves to art education and made positive contributions to the promotion of art education in the Republic of China.Most of the founders of Shanghai Painting Society in the Republic of China had been influenced by the west,or studied in Japan Europe and America.There is no doubt that all kinds of foreign painting schools and ideas have an important influence on these overseas production students.After returning to China,the overseas students set up or participated in painting societies,transmitted their studies abroad to China,and actively participated in the “Art Revolution”.Most of them are not believing in western theories excessively,but try to combine Chinese reality on the condition of Chinese environment.They tried to explore Chinese own painting creation,and actively explored Chinese own painting concept.During the period of the Republic of China,Shanghai Painting Association made outstanding achievements and had a positive influence on the art community of the Republic of China.But because of the political situation,insufficient funds and some inherent historical limitations,the development of Shanghai Painting Association does not developing smoothly.Furthermore,there are many problems,which directly restrict its development.The rise and fall of Shanghai Painting Association is a microcosm of the development and change of modern Chinese folk organizations.Its experience and lessons can also be used for reference in how to develop folk painting organizations and promote the healthy development of Chinese painting industry.