Identity, Easy-generation And Hongshou, Artistic Relationship Research

This dissertation covers the subjects of Chen Hongshou who was the important painter in late Ming and early Qing China. Through the way of textual research, this dissertation analyses the clue of his identity change and his creative activates, and explores his career change from a literati painter to a professional painter. In fact, Chen's experience could be a representation in the middle and lower classes of literati painters in late Ming and early Qing China.Until he became the "Zhong shu she ren" at45-year-old, Chen had been a Shengyuan for twenty-seven years since he became a Zhusheng when he was18-year-old. In the face of economic difficulty, he had no other selection but to sell paintings for a living.As a Shengyuan, one of the privileged classes, Chen got the identity of literati naturally which the professional painters could never obtain. We can be sure about his literati identity from his association with Songjiang School and Zhejiang School.In fact, the purpose and use of his paintings were obviously commercial, which had no differences from professional painters. Chen also showed his sensibility about art market, just like a professional painter. He could grasp people's preference quickly and then painted to cater to it, so that his paintings were always welcomed by people. Actually*Chen painted lots of theatrical prints and Yezi cards,which were completely commercial paintings to express his and friends' theatrical thoughts and political appeals.Chen's official hope was thoroughly undone after the fall of Ming dynasty. Forced by the economical pressure, he continued to sell paintings for survival, while the action had been given new meanings. It had become a way of seclusion to the adherents of Ming dynasty. Painting also became an indispensable part of the culture of adherents of Ming dynasty. It was the important way to transfer their ideas and preserve Chinese culture. Chen's attitude to the painting changed and he became a professional painter with the identity of adherent of Ming dynasty. Chen put forward the theory of "Tangyun,Songli, Yuange" and the criterion of "Rushenjia, Mingjia, Dangjia, Zuojia and Jiangjia", which can be regarded as a complete theory system.