古镇颂歌 2018

Wang Xinfu created this oil painting, "Ode to the Ancient Town," with dynamic brushstrokes that construct a view up a stepped street, lined with buildings, in what we can assume is a Chinese town. Xinfu’s thick application of paint creates a textured surface, almost like the physical buildings and steps are rising from the canvas. The built environment is aged and worn, yet still inhabited, as suggested by the red lanterns. The image captures a sense of place, perhaps reflecting on the rapid urbanization and modernization occurring in China. Many ancient towns and villages face preservation challenges, and the painting might be a commentary on the tension between progress and preserving cultural heritage. The title suggests this is no objective record, but a loving portrayal. As historians, we can research the artist's background, the specific town depicted, and the cultural context of art production and consumption in China to better understand this work's layered meanings. The painting serves as a reminder that art is always shaped by the socio-political forces of its time.