Rare exhibit showcases 'Shanghai school' art

It’s rare to witness the work of one master, never mind three, but that’s precisely what is happening at the Zhejiang Museum.

An exhibition featuring the prestigious works of painters, Wu Changshuo, Ren Bonian and Pu Hua, are now being showcased through March 17. The three artists, along with Xu Gu, were the “four masters of the Shanghai school.”

The Shanghai school refers to a genre of Chinese art that dated back to the late 19th century and originated from the vast metropolis.

The city was opened up during the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) when the then royal court was defeated in the First Opium War.

As a melting pot for artists across China, European powers could freely express their influence on the city. In turn, this influence gave rise to a middle class that supported a new style of art known as the Shanghai school.

The Shanghai style marked the first major departure from traditional Chinese painting by focusing less on the symbolism, emphasized by traditional ink-wash paintings, and more on the visual content of the painting itself.

During that period, a myriad of art societies thrived across the country. Each school had enlisted small groups of artists, especially in Zhejiang and Shanghai. And, in the south of lower reaches of the Yangtze River, the Shanghai and Zhejiang schools dominated the art field.

The Shanghai school was characterized by exaggeration and brighter colors. Wu, Ren and Pu led the field and created a number of works that were considered top-notch paintings in that period.

The three all came from the northern Zhejiang Province and specialized in ink-wash painting. Their enduring friendship influenced each other. Techniques and personal styles were integrated, which in return boosted the Shanghai school development.

Ren’s painting themes centered on landscape, flowers, birds and people, and portraits accounted for a large proportion. He drew experience from Western watercolor paintings and applied vibrant hues and light-and-shadow contrast to present vivid expressions and details.

Wu specialized in seal carving. Chinese traditional painters always finished a letter with a seal, which was typical of Chinese scholars. Seal art is a distinct and indispensable part of Chinese painting and calligraphy.

In 1904, the Xiling Seal Society was established in Hangzhou and Wu served as its first president. Thereafter it became the top academic seal art association in China. Today, it is still a mecca for artists.

The elder Ren often instructed Wu on painting and calligraphy. In one portrait, Wu is sitting on a bamboo chair, waving a fan under a Japanese banana tree. Wu cherished this portrait, which was stolen, and then discovered in Shanghai and returned to him.

In the 1910s, Wu switched focus to painting and settled in Shanghai. Wu and Ren enjoyed widespread fame. They promoted the social influence of painters and accelerated the development of the Shanghai school.

Pu’s works are on loan from Jiaxing Museum in northernmost Zhejiang Province. Bamboo and stone were the most common themes in his paintings. He used bold strokes and smooth lines to depict shapes and forms.

Date: Through March 17, closed on Mondays

Address: Zone E, West Lake Culture Plaza, 581 Zhongshan Rd N.

Admission: Free