The Comeback of Traditional Chinese Styles

    The resurgence of traditional Chinese styles has flourished in recent decades. Lin Fengmian (1900-1991), a pioneering Chinese master who honed his craft in Paris, achieved renown for seamlessly integrating European painting techniques with traditional Chinese aesthetics, evident in his captivating depictions of southeastern China’s water towns, reminiscent of Claude Monet’s Waterlilies. His student, Wu Guan zhong (1919-2010), furthered this fusion, gaining global acclaim for his oil paintings capturing the essence of Chinese culture, and notably becoming the first painter to hold a solo exhibition at the British Museum. This cultural revival extends beyond painting, with architects and composers embracing traditional elements such as joinery and traditional instruments. As classical literature and traditional attire experience resurgences, experts say that this revival represents a sophisticated modernization of traditional Chinese culture.