Reeds 

Lin Fengmian made this ink painting of reeds, and though we don’t know when exactly, we can see that the artist uses traditional forms to investigate modern ideas. Lin Fengmian lived through tumultuous times in China, as the Qing Dynasty gave way to revolution, warlordism, and then war with Japan. He believed that art could play a key social role in healing the divisions within Chinese society and helping it find a place in the modern world. From 1926 to 1937, Lin was the principal of the National Academy of Art in Hangzhou, where he promoted a synthesis of Western and Eastern art. In this light, we can see how Lin has taken on the traditional Chinese subject of landscape painting, but he has reduced the scene to broad swathes of dark and light tones. By investigating the artist's life, looking at historical sources, and understanding the art institutions he worked within, we can gain a deeper appreciation of his art.