The significance of Chen Shizeng’s view of progressivism of Chinese painting

Unlike Xu Beihong who holds the regressive view of Chinese painting, or Kang Youwei and Chen Duxiu who negate the success of the literati painting in the Ming Dynasty and the Qing Dynasty and thus even negate Chinese traditional painting, Chen Chiyu takes the view of progressivism of Chinese painting. Thanks to his in-depth research on the history of Chinese painting and being a great master of Chinese painting himself, Chen grasped the essence of the characteristics and spirit of Chinese painting, hence his view better represented the development law of Chinese painting. In the tide of the New Culture Movement denying Chinese traditional culture and of the fine arts reform, his view was of anti-tide spirit. His affirmation of the progressiveness of Chinese paintings and the value of literati painting was influential in the Chinese painting circle in the 20s and 30s of the twentieth century.