Research On The Art Of Lithography In Late19th And Early20th Century China

I intend to do systematic research on the cultural and social impact of Lithographyduring late19thand early20thcentury, which witnessed the inception of neoteric designculture in modern China.Lithography brought in new techniques that helped generate the rapid growth of earlyprinting industry in China. This new industry soon replaced the traditional manualworkshop and caused drastic changes in imagery and conception. All these factors hadcontributed to the rising of neoteric design culture and the transformation of designingconcepts. This can be shown in the following aspects:Lithography technique had caused the change from traditional manual workshop tomodern printing industry.The combination of mass production and new marketing strategies had facilitated thewide spreading of knowledge.Characterized by rich forms and multi-layered contents, these printing works hadbecome the ideal media for new information and ideas. They had deeply influenced thetaste, fashion and Zeitgeist of that time.It had made great contributions to the urbanization and commercialization of modernChina.Under the impact of the new Lithography technique, the traditional imagery patternand the way of appreciation had undergone dramatic changes.I will explore this topic from several aspects:1. The early stage.I will trace the origin and development of Lithography and point out its distinctivefeatures and advantages over traditional printing. I want to analyze its origin, innovationand development from a "technical" angle, and analyze its artistic value and its profoundinfluence on the development of visual art from an "artistic" angle.The timing for the introduction of Lithography technique into China is great. Therewas great demand and policy support for new technologies. The circulation of new ideas and concepts required modern and efficient means. Lithography was adopted for itsoutstanding performance and became the foundation of modern printing industry.The urbanization and commercialization of Chinese cities that were open to foreigntrades determined that Lithography grow rapidly and form its own distinctive features. Ithad profound influence on modern Chinese culture.2.The golden stage.Lithography gradually adapted to Chinese local culture. It clashed and assimilatedwith traditional style of printing in imagery, means of circulation and concept.The new production and marketing mode determined the makeup of the workforceand the outlook of the products.It greatly facilitated the spreading of knowledge and the development of education.It helped the transformation of the society and had great impact on urbanization.Native taste and traditional customs were succeeded by new objects and popular culturepromoted by Lithograph works. Lithography was widely used in commercial activities andhelped the formation of the urban culture.Lithography technique spawned new imagery and picture-text structure. The divisionof labour between artists and craftsmen overcame the limitations of the traditional printingmode.3. The declining stage.The emphasis on the pragmatic and commercial features of Lithography had put itstechnicality at a prominent position. Once a more efficient technology appeared,Lithography was immediately discarded.4. Analysis of its significance.Its great value lies in the fact that it was directly involved in the modernization of China.This research intends to explore the great influence of Lithography in the earlyindustrialization of China. By analyzing its development, spread and impact on popularvisual arts, I want to create a general view of Chinese culture in the late19th and early20th century. I want to have a closer look of the driving forces, i.e. technology, imageryand popular culture, behind the modernization process in this period of time.