Introduction to the work:
Li Chaoshi(1893-1971) is the first Chinese painter who brought powder art into China. He was sent by the government to the UK to study after Revolution of 1911 had succeeded. Because of his immense interest with painting, the next year he entered Paris Sermelle Fine Art School. He entered Paris Fine Art College (BEAUX-ARTS DE PARIS) in 1913. Inspired by Degas and Renoir, famous impressionists, he began to study and paint powder color painting. After returning back to China in 1919, he worked at Shanghai Art School to teach oil painting and powder painting skills. In 1925 he was invited by his fellow countryman Lin Fengmian to work as the dean of the Western Painting Department of Beijing State Art College. Later he followed Lin to teach at Hangzhou State Art College. He was transferred to Shandong Normal College and was voted Chairman of Shandong Art Association. "Pumpkin" was done in Shandong. Warm purple as its background, the bright colored pumpkin, though painted with a few lines, shows its shape and essence, so the painting was considered a masterpiece of powder painting. Powder painting developed fast again in 1980s, but never as popular as watercolor and waterpowder paintings. Though there are a few association of powder painting in Shanghai and other places, few people are as good as Li Chaoshi.