See this powerful 1950 portrait of a cavalry hero by Xu Beihong, blending realism with heroic spirit; discover this piece of Chinese modern art today.
Explore the art of Xu Beihong (1895-1953), a pioneering Chinese painter celebrated for his dynamic horse & bird paintings. Discover how he blended traditional ink techniques with Western styles, shaping modern Chinese art.
CAFA Art Museum
(Beijing, People's Republic of China)
Discover Beijing's CAFA Art Museum to explore an extraordinary collection of over 2,000 Ming Dynasty scroll paintings and modern Chinese masterpieces within a stunning architectural space designed by Arata Isozaki.
In February 1950, Xu Beihong published the article “An Informal Discussion on Landscape Painting” in New Construction. In addition to pointing out the history, accomplishments, and other existential issues of Chinese landscape painting, he noted: “Art needs realism. If there is a genius among us, I hope that he will depict the historical circumstances of our heroes (such as combat heroes and model workers). These model figures highlight the great era in which we are fortunate to live.”During the National Heroic Model Conference in September 1950, Xu Beihong proposed making portraits of heroes and models and inviting combat heroes and model workers to schools to give reports and have informal discussions with students and teachers. Xu practiced what he preached. He worked among the people, drawing portraits of combat heroes and model workers.
