Art History 340MC - The Art of Modern China

This course will consider the development of modern Chinese art from the overthrow of the Qing dynasty in 1911 to contemporary trends today. Along the way, professional artists in China faced an acute identity crisis: How could they make foreign styles and methods their own? Which aspects of centuries-old ink and brush painting and other traditional art forms ought to be retained and developed? How could art be made to serve ordinary people, not just elites? How much independence was possible in Mao's China? How has commercial success and the internet transformed the outlook of contemporary Chinese artists? As a point of departure, we will examine and discuss traditional Chinese objects in the Mount Holyoke College Art Museum.

This course is open to Juniors and Seniors.; Prereq: 8 credits in art history.