The Nianhua Gallery
New Nianhua
In late 19th and early 20th century China's cultural elite regarded nianhua as beneath their concern, rarely mentioned them in any literary text, and had little interest in their collection or preservation. A half-century later the situation was drastically reversed. Technological, social and cultural change had all but killed the village printing industries, but in the revolutionary capital of Yan'an the cultural elite of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) had identified nianhua and other forms of 'folk art' as a central component of its new arts policy. As a consequence, the industry was revived in the early 1950s as the new Chinese state tried to bring the 'peasant' into the broad framework of modernity by adopting 'peasant forms' as a model art-form. The success of the venture, however, depended on relieving the folk-artist of creative control, and delegating authority to career artists employed by the state.
In 1949, just after China came under the control of the Chinese Communist Party, and just before preparations for the New Year began, the Ministry of Culture issued the following directive on the creation of so-called 'New Nianhua':
"New nianhua should emphasize labouring people's new, happy and hard-fought lives and their appearance of health and heroism. In art we must fully utilize folk styles, and strive to capture the customs of the masses. In printing, we must avoid ostentation and keep costs down. Consider the people's purchasing power and avoid high prices. In distribution, we must use the old nianhua distribution network (incense shops, small book stands, itinerant peddlers etc.), and break into the greater nianhua market. As to those popular 'door god' pictures, yuefenpai pictures etc, new nianhua should pay attention to them, revise these styles, and make them a tool for popularising new art..."
'Livestock Thrives' Yangjiabu, Shandong
'Fruits of Victory' Yangjiabu, Shandong
'Laboriously Fishing' Yangjiabu, Shandong
'Fruits of Victory' Yangjiabu, Shandong
'1984 Calendar' Yangjiabu, Shandong
'1984 Calendar' Yangjiabu, Shandong
'Revolutionary Wedding' Yangjiabu, Shandong
'New Door Picture' Yangjiabu, Shandong
'Silver River in the Clouds' Xie Changyi
