Ancient Warrior

Gao Jianfu Chinese

Not on view

Gao Jianfu was an early advocate of reforming the arts through the study of Western-style painting. In 1906 he went to Japan, where he studied a new form of "Japanese-style" painting that synthesized Western realism—natural light and luminous colors—with Eastern materials, techniques, and subject matter. This new hybrid art included the use of perspective, chiaroscuro, and other elements of Western painting.

Gao's willingness to experiment with exotic subject matter and non-Chinese techniques is epitomized in Ancient Warrior, painted in Calcutta. The large-eyed, mustachioed figure was inspired by the new nationalistic painting style of the Bengali artist Abanindranath Tagore (1871–1931).

Ancient Warrior, Gao Jianfu (Chinese, 1878–1951), Hanging scroll; ink and color on alum paper, China

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Ancient Warrior, Gao Jianfu (Chinese, 1878–1951), Hanging scroll; ink and color on alum paper, China
Ancient Warrior, Gao Jianfu (Chinese, 1878–1951), Hanging scroll; ink and color on alum paper, China

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