Huangzhong Peasant Paintings

Huangzhong is a small city in the Haidong prefecture of the Qinghai Province. It is an area rich in folk arts with many of its villagers classed as highly talented artisans. Huangzhong peasants have been creating exaggerated, creative peasant paintings since the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1912) Dynasties.

During the 1970’s, Huangzhong peasant paintings emerged with its own artistic style focusing on the Han and Zang cultures and its local traditions and festivities. Paintings focused on the simple aspects of peasant life such as harvesting, celebrations and home life. Peasant artisans from Huangzhong capture the essence and simplicity of rural living through bright contrasting colours and exaggerated forms. Huangzhong peasant paintings focus on the daily lives and traditions of the local peasants.

There are approximately seventy Huangzhong peasant painters who are highly regarded for their use of strong, bold colours and their exaggerated, primitive designs. Their artworks have been highly ranked in many national and international exhibitions.

This treasured folk art was added to the list of Provincial Intangible Cultural Heritages in 2006. The peasants living in Huangzhong continue to create snapshot paintings of their agricultural lifestyles for the world to enjoy.