![Picture source:China Online Museum; Xugu - elegant offerings Picture source:China Online Museum; Xugu - elegant offerings](http://custom-images.strikinglycdn.com/res/hrscywv4p/image/upload/c_limit,fl_lossy,h_9000,w_1200,f_auto,q_auto/926592/xugu_elegant-offerings_-_China_online_museum_q2yv0j.jpg)
Today, inspired and excited about our Creative 上海Bike Tour (click on this link for more details! https://cultureshock.rezdy.com/230113/creative-bike-tour-meet-the-artists) , we will stick to the art scene of the city, but at the first stages of its development.
In the late 19th century China entered a period of political and economic decline. This is when numerous artists were attracted to the relative safety of Shanghai - a treaty port where traditional Chinese painting styles were increasingly influenced by new imported media, including photography, lithography, color posters, and mass-circulation newspapers. It was in this cosmopolitan environment that a distinctive style of painting was born.
THE SHANGHAI SCHOOL
1.Chinese name - 海上画派 - Hǎishàng Huàpài.
2.It rejected orthodox interpretations of the Literati style that had dominated painting during the preceding three hundred years ( good example of that style were paintings by Shen Zhou from 16th century).
![Picture source: China Online Museum; Joint landscape by Shen Zhou Picture source: China Online Museum; Joint landscape by Shen Zhou](http://custom-images.strikinglycdn.com/res/hrscywv4p/image/upload/c_limit,fl_lossy,h_9000,w_1200,f_auto,q_auto/926592/Shen_Zhou_joint_landscape_hyp9xz.jpg)
![Picture source:comuseum - Ming Dynasty ; Shen Zhou Picture source:comuseum - Ming Dynasty ; Shen Zhou](http://custom-images.strikinglycdn.com/res/hrscywv4p/image/upload/c_limit,fl_lossy,h_9000,w_1200,f_auto,q_auto/926592/Shen_Zhou_2_-_comuseum-_Ming_Dynasty_1368-1644_gnghmn.jpg)
3.The Shanghai School favored portraiture, popular narrative subjects, and colorful flower-and-bird compositions.
![Picture surce:invaluable.com; piece by Wu Changshuo Picture surce:invaluable.com; piece by Wu Changshuo](http://custom-images.strikinglycdn.com/res/hrscywv4p/image/upload/c_limit,fl_lossy,h_9000,w_1200,f_auto,q_auto/926592/7da51c357f964079bd7fbd3cb58ca96c_uo8mxg.jpg)
4.Shanghai artists drew inspiration from the highly expressive and dramatically charged imagery and brushwork of 17th century individualists and the “eccentric” painters of 18th century Yangzhou.
![Picture source:Wikimedia Commons; Playing the flute by Ren Bonian Picture source:Wikimedia Commons; Playing the flute by Ren Bonian](http://custom-images.strikinglycdn.com/res/hrscywv4p/image/upload/c_limit,fl_lossy,h_9000,w_1200,f_auto,q_auto/926592/wikimedia_commons-_Ren_Bonian_-_playing_the_flute_c6w8dy.jpg)
5.They based their art on 17th and 18th century prototypes, but preferred an even greater degree of exaggeration in forms and a brighter palette—stressing visual impact over symbolism or narrative content.
![Picture source: artnet.com; painting by Pu Hua Picture source: artnet.com; painting by Pu Hua](http://custom-images.strikinglycdn.com/res/hrscywv4p/image/upload/c_limit,fl_lossy,h_9000,w_1200,f_auto,q_auto/926592/8066e52dee2f4b37a40a96b88280c167_x4gse8.jpg)
6.The most notable painters of the Shanghai School are Xugu (虛谷, 1824–1896), Pu Hua (蒲華, 1832–1911), Ren Bonian (任伯年, 1840–1895), and Wu Changshuo (吳昌碩, 1844–1927).
![Picture source:artvalue.com; Wu Changshuo Picture source:artvalue.com; Wu Changshuo](http://custom-images.strikinglycdn.com/res/hrscywv4p/image/upload/c_limit,fl_lossy,h_9000,w_1200,f_auto,q_auto/926592/8e326acc46cd46f489da382afd256ecb_f7j8ql.jpg)
![Picture source:China Online Museum; Goldfish by Xugu Picture source:China Online Museum; Goldfish by Xugu](http://custom-images.strikinglycdn.com/res/hrscywv4p/image/upload/c_limit,fl_lossy,h_9000,w_1200,f_auto,q_auto/926592/xugu_goldfish_-_comuseum_-_China_Online_Museum_spfv94.jpg)