Zhang (artist)
Encyclopedia
For other uses of Zhang see Zhang
Zhang was a self-taught anonymous Chinese
artist whose works were recently uncovered. It is estimated that the majority of his work was done in the 1970s.
have proved fruitless. Due to the prominent naturalistic backgrounds in many of the works, art historians have suggested that Zhang may have been relocated from rural
china to work in the factories. Zhang likely supplemented his long work-days with clandestine painting sessions, which would have been forbidden by industrial practices.
that reflects both traditional Chinese themes of harmony in addition to twentieth-century modernization. Many of Zhang’s works mimic popular propaganda
posters of the time. The paintings depict the joy and tranquility of the people in a post-Mao Zedong
society. Zhang’s style is heavily influenced by ancient Chinese painting, despite the trend of the time period to distance modern art
from traditional methods.
Zhang
Zhang may refer to:* Zhang , common Chinese surname* Zhang County , of Dingxi, Gansu* Zhang River , a river flowing mainly in Henan* Zhang, Beijing , town in Shunyi District, Beijing...
Zhang was a self-taught anonymous Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
artist whose works were recently uncovered. It is estimated that the majority of his work was done in the 1970s.
Discovery
The collection of art now associated with Zhang was discovered during the demolition of unused industrial land. Workers uncovered a wealth of images and sculptures in a remote corner of an abandoned factory warehouse. The work was eventually transferred into the hands of contemporary Chinese art historian Wang Jun Yi.Background
Efforts to identify the artist by anything other than his surnameSurname
A surname is a name added to a given name and is part of a personal name. In many cases, a surname is a family name. Many dictionaries define "surname" as a synonym of "family name"...
have proved fruitless. Due to the prominent naturalistic backgrounds in many of the works, art historians have suggested that Zhang may have been relocated from rural
Rural
Rural areas or the country or countryside are areas that are not urbanized, though when large areas are described, country towns and smaller cities will be included. They have a low population density, and typically much of the land is devoted to agriculture...
china to work in the factories. Zhang likely supplemented his long work-days with clandestine painting sessions, which would have been forbidden by industrial practices.
Artistic works
Zhang’s works display an idiosyncratic iconographyIconography
Iconography is the branch of art history which studies the identification, description, and the interpretation of the content of images. The word iconography literally means "image writing", and comes from the Greek "image" and "to write". A secondary meaning is the painting of icons in the...
that reflects both traditional Chinese themes of harmony in addition to twentieth-century modernization. Many of Zhang’s works mimic popular propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
posters of the time. The paintings depict the joy and tranquility of the people in a post-Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong, also transliterated as Mao Tse-tung , and commonly referred to as Chairman Mao , was a Chinese Communist revolutionary, guerrilla warfare strategist, Marxist political philosopher, and leader of the Chinese Revolution...
society. Zhang’s style is heavily influenced by ancient Chinese painting, despite the trend of the time period to distance modern art
Modern art
Modern art includes artistic works produced during the period extending roughly from the 1860s to the 1970s, and denotes the style and philosophy of the art produced during that era. The term is usually associated with art in which the traditions of the past have been thrown aside in a spirit of...
from traditional methods.