Art as History

This richly illustrated book provides an anthology and summation of the work of one of the world's leading historians of Chinese painting and calligraphy. Art as History by Wen C. Fong reflects a career that spanned over five decades at Princeton University and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where he helped to establish the field of East Asian art history.

Few English writers possess such an extensive understanding of the history and practice of Chinese painting and calligraphy. In this collection of his most recent essays, Fong presents a comprehensive overview of the history of Chinese painting and calligraphy, offering new and revised perspectives on a wide range of significant subjects.

The topics addressed include "art as history," where each art object captures a moment in art's vital history. The book also discusses the museum as a place of serious study and education, and the historical connection between calligraphy and painting, underscoring their supremacy among Chinese fine arts. Additionally, the parallel development of representational painting and sculpture during early painting history is explored.

The book further examines the greater significance of brushwork in later painting history, viewing it abstractly as a means of personal expression by the artist. It highlights the paradigmatic importance of the master-to-follower lineage, serving as a social force in shaping continuity and directing nuanced changes in Chinese painting history. The role of collectors and the critical need for authenticated works to establish a precise art history are also discussed.

Throughout Art as History, Fong melds close analysis with detailed contextualisation of individual works, demonstrating how the study of Chinese painting and calligraphy offers profound insights into Chinese culture and history.