Chinese art: Art under Communism

After the Communists came to power in 1949 the graphic arts useful to political propaganda were encouraged, and Western influence in the arts was strictly discouraged. Within the limits of government restrictions two painters, Li K'o-jan and Ch'eng Shih-fa, have produced works of considerable individuality. Chinese artists working outside China, including Tseng Yu-ho in Hawaii, C. C. Wang in New York, and Chao Wu-chi in France, have produced abstract works based on calligraphy that reveal some Western influence.

Sections in this article:

• Introduction
• Art under Communism
• Cross-Cultural Influences in Modern Times
• Calligraphy and the Minor Arts
• Chinese Painting since the Fifth Century
• Buddhist Art
• The Early Dynasties: Ritual Bronzes
• Early Periods
• Bibliography

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2024, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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