Quick Facts
Biography
Jiang Zhaohe or Chiang Chao-ho (Chinese: 蒋兆和) (1904 – 1986) was a Chinese artist who played a leading role in the reform process of Chinese figure painting. At the beginning of 20th century, he takes an actively actions to accept the concept of western painting style with the big change of culture. He showed concerns about the cruel reality and people's sorrows, which is different from many other artists who showed an indifference towards reality.
Early life
Jiang was born at Lu county in Sichuan in 1904. At that period of time, Jiang Zhaohe's great-grandfather and the whole family moved into Lu county of Sichuan from Ma Cheng. He was the only boy of the same generation in the whole family, and other children were all girls, so he was the hope of the whole family. Because he was named after Wan (万)，his father named him Jiang Wansui(蒋万绥)。 He lost his parents at a very little age, 13 years old. He should also looked his little sisters.
Career
He was a design artist and painter in his early time of career, however, he became an artist with a combination with Chinese painting style and western painting style. He didn't have a formal art education.
In 1929, he exhibited at the National Art Exhibition in Nanjing.
He taught at the Central Academy of the Fine Arts.
He was elected as the member of the Chinese Artists Association. He was also elected as the consultant and member of China Federation of Literature together with the Institute of Chinese Painting Fellows.
Works
Jiang created a number of famous works, including "A beneficial friend " (良友), "The victims"（牺牲者）, "Cai Ting"（蔡廷）， "A girl"(姑娘). His work， "Du Fu", gained the Reputation Reward. His most famous and influential work, however, is "Liuwang Tu"(流亡图).These works described the real lives of poor people and the cruel society. It brought great shock to the whole society at the difficult time. He use the painting style of realism to reveal the black and hard time. His works are collected in the Painting Collection of Jiang Zhaohe.
Additionally, he also published his book on the painting skills and other methods of painting teaching. For example, "The problems on teaching Chinese figure painting" (《国画人物写生的教学问题》), " On the sketch teaching of Chinese painting" (《关于中国画的素描教学》), and "The regular pattern of ink Chinese figure painting" (《中国水墨人物画的造型规律》), and so on.