Tracing the past drawing the future

Tracing the Past, Drawing the Future examines a crucial turning point in the development of Chinese ink painting in the twentieth century, a change represented by the beautiful and innovative work of four artists, Wu Changshuo (1844–1927), Qi Baishi (1863–1957), Huang Binhong (1864–1955), and Pan Tianshou (1897–1971). With careers spanning over a century of radical change in China, these artists were instrumental in propelling the ancient tradition of Chinese ink painting into the modern era in the face of compelling Western influences. As a group, their work represents an alternative approach to questions of relevance and modernity.