The Evolution Of The Early Republic Of China Shanghai Region Of Western Art Associations (1912-1928)

The western art associations in Shanghai region are one of the most important bridges during the transmission of west paintings to the east in the early period of Republic of China. The development and evolution of the western art associations are not only because of their intrinsic laws, but also influenced by the extrinsic social environment and the historical trend. Based on research on the western art associations established during1912to1928in Shanghai, from the history and sociology perspectives, this thesis does extensive research on the origin, history, evolution and the inter-relationships of the western art associations in Shanghai and the social, cultural reasons behind their sudden prosperity in the time.This thesis is divided into five parts along the timeline. The first part is the Preface, which elaborates the meanings and values of research on the western art associations in Shanghai. It analyze and evaluate the status quo of research on art associations of modern China, then proposes the idea of this study, research scope, research methodology and main points of view. It also summarizes the development of painting and calligraphy associations in Shanghai before the founding of Republic of China, and how they influence the western art associations in Shanghai. The first chapter sets the background as the Revolution of1911and beginning of the Republic of China. Through the research on "Jiaxifa Studio"、"Wenmei Society"、"Sketch Society" and "Eastern Art Association", the first batch of western art associations appeared in China, the chapter analyze the reasons for their establishment in Shanghai, and the characteristics in their initial stage. The second chapter takes "Pegasus"、"Dawn of Art Association" and "White Goose Association", the three prestigious western art associations, as examples. The chapter analyze the development thread of western art associations in Shanghai before and after the May4th Movement, and the inter-influence and inter-relationships between the individual western art associations, and between the associations and the society. At the same time, the chapter does in-depth analysis of a special community phenomenon of multiple western art associations. The third chapter introduces in detail the commercial art associations and the first comic book club in Shanghai in the period of Northern Expedition, and analyzes the social reasons of their rise. The last chapter is the conclusion part. It discusses the ascendant helix type of evolution of western art associations in Shanghai during1912to1928, which developed from Pragmatism to Purism, then return to Pragmatism. The chapter divides the whole period into three phases:the exploration phase, the development phase and the transformation phase.The author thinks that the rise and development of the western art associations in Shanghai during the early time of Republic of China have great influence and profound significance to the western art movement in China. The western art associations not only cultivated many western art talents, but also promoted and popularized the thinking of western paintings to the society and the mass. In addition, they lay a good foundation for the large scale emergence of western art associations after1930s.