Chapter 8 Introduction to "Woodcut Chronicles"

Chinese woodcut pictures, from the Tang Dynasty to the Ming Dynasty, once had a very respectable history (2).But the new woodcuts now have nothing to do with this history.The new woodcuts are influenced by European creative woodcuts.The introduction to the creation of woodcuts began at Chaohua Society. The four volumes of "Yiyuan Chaohua" [3] published there were chosen to be printed, but they were not exquisite and were despised by famous artists, but they attracted the attention of young apprentices.By the summer of 1931, there was China's first woodcut workshop in Shanghai [4].And from the spread, there is the Muling Society, which has printed two copies of "Muling Woodcut Collection".There is also Ye Sui Society, which once printed a series of "Woodcut Painting".There is an unknown woodcut company [5], which once printed "Woodcut Collection".However, the Muling Society was destroyed long ago, and there is no news of the continuation or development of the latter two societies.Not long ago there was still M·K· Woodcut Research Society in Shanghai[6]. It is a small group with a long history. It has exhibited its works many times and will publish "Selected Woodcut Paintings". .Many members of the commune were arrested and expelled, and the woodblocks were also confiscated by the Bureau of the Ministry of Industry [7].

As far as we know, there doesn't seem to be a single group working on woodcuts anymore.But there are still individuals who study woodcuts.For example, Luo Qingzhen [8] has published the second series of "Qingzhen Woodcut Collection"; Ru Youcun [9] has recently printed a comic strip of "The Story of Liao Kunyu".This is all worth remembering. Moreover, thanks to the author's continuous efforts and the increasing excellence of his works, not only has he won the sympathy of Chinese readers, but he has gradually reached the first step to go out into the world.Although it is not solid yet, in short, it is about to step out.At the same time, however, there was a crisis of stagnation.Because if there is no encouragement and discussion, I am afraid it is easy to fall into self-sufficiency.This episode is intended to be a woodcut milestone. Since last year, the works that should be circulated have been edited and printed successively, with the help of the readers' overview and the author's reference.But of course, we are only limited to what we can collect, and China's outstanding works are by no means exhausted here.

Other publishers, on the one hand, are introducing new works from Europe and the United States, and on the other hand, they are copying ancient Chinese engravings, which are also the wings of new Chinese woodcuts.It is one way to adopt foreign good rules and develop them to make our works more full; it is also a way to choose Chinese heritage and integrate new opportunities to make future works unique.If the author keeps working hard so that this collection can move forward step by step, then you will know that what I said above is really not just a luxury. Mid-June, 1934, Journal of Ironwood Art Society.

CC [1] This article was originally printed in the book "Woodcut Chronicles". "Woodcut Chronicles", edited by Lu Xun, printed in the name of Tiemu Art Society, including 24 woodcuts, authors He Baitao, Li Wucheng (Chen Yanqiao), Chen Tiegeng, Yigong (Huang Xinbo), Chen Puzhi, Zhang Zhiping (Zhang Wang), Liu Xian, Luo Qingzhen and others, the first edition printed 120 copies. (The words June 1934 appear on the cover, but according to Lu Xun's diary, it was compiled and printed on August 14 of the same year.) 〔2〕The ancient woodblock prints in my country, the earliest ones seen now are the Buddha statues of the late Tang Dynasty and the Five Dynasties (10th century AD) found in the Dunhuang Thousand Buddha Caves, which have a considerable artistic level, which is earlier than the 14th century German woodblock statues of the Virgin Mary For hundreds of years; afterward, the illustrations of medical books in the Song Dynasty and the embroidered portraits of novels in the Ming Dynasty further developed.

〔3〕Chaohua Society, a literary and art group organized by Lu Xun, Rou Shi, etc., was established in Shanghai in November 1928 and disbanded in the spring of 1930. "Yiyuan Zhaohua", a series of fine arts, edited by Lu Xun, published five volumes in total.The first series "Selected Works of Modern Woodcuts (1), the second series "Selected Works of Shigu Honger", the third series "Selected Works of Modern Woodcuts (2)", and the fourth series "Selected Works of Beardsley Paintings" were published in It was published by Chaohua Society in 1929.The fifth series "New Russian Paintings" was published by Guanghua Book Company in 1930.

〔4〕The woodcut seminar was held in Shanghai in August 1931 by 18 Arts Club.Lu Xun introduced the Japanese Uchiyama Kaji to teach woodcut techniques, and he acted as an interpreter. From August 17th to 22nd, it lasted for a week. 〔5〕Muling Society was founded in Hangzhou Art School in early 1933, the main members are Hao Liqun, Cao Bai and others.In October of the same year, due to the arrest of key members, it disintegrated invisible.Ye Sui Club was established in Shanghai Xinhua Art School in the winter of 1933, with main members including Chen Yanqiao and Chen Tiegeng.Wuming Woodcarving Society (later renamed Unnamed Woodcarving Society) was established in Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts at the end of 1933, and its main members were Liu Xian and Huang Xinbo.

〔6〕The MK Woodcut Research Institute was established in September 1932 in the Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts. "MK" is the initial letter of the word "Muke" in Latinized pinyin. The main members are Zhou Jinhai and Wang Shaoluo. , Zhang Wang, Jin Fengsun, Chen Puzhi, etc., have held four woodcut exhibitions. 〔7〕The Bureau of the Ministry of Industry was the governing body established by the imperialists such as Britain, the United States, and Japan in the concessions of Shanghai and Tianjin. [8] Luo Qingzhen (1905-1942) was born in Xingning, Guangdong, and a wood engraver. [9] Youcun is Chen Tiegeng (1906-1970), a wood engraver from Xingning, Guangdong.