China in New Year Paintings

Over the past 60 years, Chinese society has undergone significant changes that are clearly reflected in literature, painting, film, drama and other literary and artistic works. In China, both the rich and the poor, the elite and the working class all celebrate the Spring Festival entertainments are one of the season. Before TV sets and internet became as popular as today, Chinese New Year paintings (including publicity paintings) were one of the most direct and biggest media for observations of China, which were able to reach millions of households throughout the country. This book is composed of 200 carefully chosen Chinese New Year paintings from 1949 on, and is divided into three time periods: 1949-1965, 1966-1978, and 1979-2009. These paintings tell of the major events in China from different perspectives and in different periods over the past 60 years, including politics, the economy, urbanization, industrial and agricultural production, folk customs and more.