Li Zhenjian And Traditional Chinese Figure Painting

The Zhe-School figure painting was the most representative school of painting in China in the 1950 s and 1960 s.Li Zhen-jian is known as the founder and the most outstanding painter of this school.The frankness,modesty and kindness in Li's nature have made his work a vivid interpretation of life of the grass-root society.His art pieces feature thick and vigorous ink,fluent and dense lines,and a concise style.Three major categories are addressed in his works: portraits in classroom and in the countryside,ink and wash figure painting,and independent artistic creation.The present paper studies and explores the concepts and characteristics of Li's work from the perspective of the above three categories,as well as developing an understanding of his pursuit of artistic ideal in his life through finding extraordinary beauty in ordinary things.Li is also known for his unique idea of education.As a prominent painter in China,he has always been committed to the education of Chinese figure painting,and has educated the second and the third generation of Zhe-School figure painting artists.With an analysis of Li's art style,the period of time represented by his unique work,and a comparison of that against contemporary fine arts and its education,the present paper illustrates the significant role that Li Zhen-jian has played in Chinese figure painting.