The specific character of still life in Chinese oil painting in the 1930s - 1940s
He article considers the specific character of Chinese oil painting of the first third of the 20th century, made in the genre of still life, including the formal and stylistic features of these works, their ideological and thematic background and socio-cultural conditions in which they were created. The examples of the most significant artworks of this genre are given, and their art history analysis is carried out. For instance, the most iconic still lifes by such prominent Chinese authors as Chang Shuhong, Lin Fengmian, Chen Baoi, Li Tefu, Xu Xingzhi, Wei Tianling and Fang Chunpi are considered. The author comes to the conclusion that this genre allowed artists to explore the means of artistic expressiveness of oil painting. Difficult social and economic circumstances in China in the 1930s - 1940s could not stop the development of still life genre, performed in the oil painting technique, because it helped the artists focus on their pursuit of pure experimental art and explore the features of the new painting technique. Still life as a genre developed together with the formation of the national Chinese style in oil painting and made it possible to introduce many innovations in the color, formal composition and symbolism of the objects depicted, reflecting a difficult and crucial time.