«Chairman Mao Goes to Anyuan»,

The theory of formalism and the method are  good for us to reading artworks, it is involve two perspectives outside the painting to evaluate the meaning of a painting. When we studying the theory of formalism and the method it will help us more easy to reading other artist works, then we have the opportunity to carefully read such a famous Chinese celebrity-themed painting from the perspective of painting form, and to observe and think about the unity of oriental art and Western art by facing specific works.The painter Liu Chunhua depicts Mao Zedong in the young period of his life with realistic techniques.The visual effect of using light color is influenced by Western realism. Realism and metaphor are used close together to depict both Mao Zedong’s life and his party’s future.

For oil painting, the pen and the color cannot be separated, just as the pen and ink of traditional Chinese painting cannot be separated.The painter meticulously portrays the facial features, the attachment of the expression and the skin, and the pleats of the clothes.The protagonist holds an umbrella in his right hand, and every knuckle is clearly drawn when the left fist is clenched.That is to say, the painter has a clear understanding of these structural relationships, and the ins and outs of each pen are clearly explained, instead of using a chaotic pen to cover up the structural relationship that he has not figured out. All the expressions of the characters constructed by the painter are meaningful,and the color of the sky is very deep and has special significance.The painter's pen is free to use color, and the sly color shades the important structural relationship, and we have to use the formalist theory to peruse the painting to clarify the relationship.The painter's great paintings make people feel the cold and depressed feeling. The painter has this way to reflect Mao Zedong's dangerous environment at that time. Formalism is mainly concerned with structure, because without structure there is no whole,and the structural relationship between the details is particularly important.In short, the structure of the painting and the whole day are good, reflecting the grace of the great man.

Liu Chunhua,«Chairman Mao Goes to Anyuan», oil on canvas, 220 x 180 cm