Leftist writer Lu Xun was a strong proponent in woodcut art, believing that it could be used to influence Chinese to change their society. Woodcuts were used in Japanese resistance propaganda and to criticize the ruling Nationalist party.
Many of these artists participated in the Long March, a year-long 8,000-mile military retreat of the Red Army against the Nationalists in 1934 that ended in Yan'an a city in the north-central province of Shaanxi Province that became their base.
At Yan'an, the communists established the Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts where many artists studied both woodcut and other techniques. Communist leader Mao Zedong's talks on on Art and Literature in 1942, further influenced these artists to travel and study under folk artists to create artistic propaganda with the purpose of improving the nation.
After the Communists won the Chinese civil war and founded the People's Republic of China in 1949, China invited Soviet experts to visit and advise them on the construction of a new nation, they also sent Chinese experts to study in the Soviet Union. Oil painting became a priority among these artists who mixed the blockish feel of woodcuts with the Soviet style of Socialist Realism.
Subject Matter
There was no such thing as art for art's sake under this style of painting. Art was only in service to nation building.
Subjects included larger-than-life grand depictions of peasants and workers, always smiling and happily building up the Chinese nation. Many Chinese policies such as the Great Leap Forward and collectivization of agriculture were presented to the public using Socialist Realism Posters. Often these posters included Communist expressions and slogans.
Most commonly portrayed subjects include farmers, workers, soldiers, and students as well as Chinese leaders and heros. Themes included soldiers engaged in battle against capitalist enemies, or farmers at work tilling the soil.
Socialist Realism with Chinese Characteristics
From the start, The Chinese style of Socialist Realism differed slightly from the Soviet style. The colors were brighter, and paintings included water-color like gradations in tone. The outlines of the subjects were also more clearly defined, perhaps due to the influence of woodcut art.
In 1959, the Chinese-Soviet split led to a return to more traditional Chinese styles, though the form of art continued. It saw a rebirth during the Cultural Revolution from 1966-1976 when many national art exhibitions organized by Mao's wife Jiang Qing were held.
Chinese Socialist Realism Today
After the death of Mao and the end of the Cultural Revolution, Socialist Realism Art diminished but did not die. Many government posters still have a recognizable Socialist Realism style such as one I saw in 2003 during the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome in China, with a woodcut style depiction of people fighting SARS with face masks on.
Today Socialist Realism art is trendy among foreigners living and studying in China.
Copies of Socialist Realism posters can be found are ubiquitous in many Chinese antique markets. But beware, even if the vendor says that they are real, if the price is unbelievably cheap, it's likely to be a fake. Many websites have also emerged with catalogs of these posters for the enjoyment of collectors worldwide.
For examples of these works, check out our Chinese Social Realism photo gallery.