From Aesthetic To Practical

In the grand Lu Xun study, the research about Lu Xun and art is just one of a small branch. Usually we remember Lu Xun as a thinker, but sometimes forget him as an actor. In the field of art, Lu Xun is more of an actor. This paper, pointed at the introduction of foreign art of Lu Xun, in the main clue of his 1930s art view change, analyses the images and text of his introduced foreign art works and theories, discusses how the transformation of Lu Xun’s art thought is reflected in his introduction of art, also discusses the relationship between Lu Xun’s art activities and his literary views.This paper divided into two parts.The first part analyses Lu Xun’s art view and his foreign art introduction before 1930s. In this period, with the thought of "Art is for cultivating people", he translated the works of Western art history "Modern Art History Tide Theory", edited five volumes of foreign prints, illustration books. Those art works, having smooth lines, are rich in ornament. The theme of the works is focused on the expression of personal feelings, as well as scientific popularization.The second part mainly analyses the introduction of art after 1930s, when Lu Xun was influenced by Soviet Marx’s theory of literature and art. At this time, the art works Lu Xun introduced had changed a lot:from Romanticism to Realism, from the emphasis on decorative to the emphasis on narrative.No matter from the form or the theme, these works had produced a very different picture. The motivation of Lu Xun for the introduction of art, also had changed from the aesthetic to cultivate people to use for the revolution.As for the revolutionary character, it is different from the creation in the field of literature, and Lu Xun’s fine arts activities have a certain lag. Early in the literary works, Lu Xun had begun to drum up support, but his introduction of foreign art works, were still peaceful. However, in the 1930s, the art works he introduced had begun from the form to the content, to fully join the cause of his revolution.