Lin Fengmian
Chinese, 1900 - 1991
Person TypeIndividual
BiographyLin Fengmien was a forerunner of the first generation of Chinese artist who studied in Paris in the 1920s. His contemporaries, among others, were Liu Haisu and Xu Beihong. He went to Paris at age 19 and stayed for a peirod of six years. Upon Lin's return to China in 1926, he became head of the New Beijing Art Academy at age twenty five and lanuched the modern movement in Chinese art. Lin's transparent landscapes, birds, river scene and guaches reflected the turbulent social changes taking place in 20th century China. Later, he served as the director of the Hangzhou Art Academy for ten years. He taught western painting while Pan Tianshou taught traditional painting. Among his former students are some of the biggest names in Chinese modern art, including Li Keran, Zao Wouki, Huang Yongyu and Wu Guangzhong. Lin seldom date his paintings. The two AAM leaves were painted during the years of the second world war (according to Betty Ecke), or during the 1930s and 1940s, according to Cai Xingyi and Ding Xiyuan. The mother and child could be an illustration of the artist and his mother. He was very close to his mother.