Rizhao Peasant Paintings

Rizhao is a city located in the southeastern Shangdong Province. It is situated on the eastern coastline of the Yellow Sea and acts as a major sea port. It is also known for its historic peasant paintings which have greatly developed through the last decades into a treasured Chinese folk art.

Rizhao peasant paintings were first created in the Donggang district of Rizhao city in the 1960’s. It received support from both the Shandong and national government to build upon the peasants’ artistic skills. The themes central to these paintings include mountains, lakes, ocean, folk customs and new rural changes after the ‘reform and opening up’ policies.

More than one hundred Rizhou peasant paintings are on display at national award-winning exhibitions. Over eighty exquisite peasant paintings are currently included in the national collection of folk paintings.

In 1985, Rizhao peasant artisans established the Rizhao Peasant Painting Association to organize the promotion and marketing of the paintings. The following year the Shandong Institute of Arts and Crafts and the Academy of Arts and Crafts invited sixty five peasant farmers to display their paintings in their exhibitions. The paintings were admired by many from near and far who applauded the peasant artists’ unique and free style.

In 1987, The Chinese Art Gallery held a special exhibition honouring Rizhao peasant paintings. Many national leaders and foreign guests viewed the magnificent art works. The paintings quickly became known as some of the finest folk paintings within China.

Today, there are thousands of Rizhao peasant paintings on display in a number of different cultural museums around the world. They are famous for their historic development and flowing, simplistic designs complemented with bold colours.

Rizhao is classed as one of the three famous towns known for their modern Chinese folk paintings. The peasant paintings have received wide spread acclaim in China and abroad. It was also given the honourable title of “The County of Modern Chinese Folk Paintings” by the Ministry of Culture. This style of Chinese painting continues to grow and has the ability to adapt to modern times. Each year, new designs are developed and new professional techniques are taught to the artists. Rizhou peasant paintings have become an iconic form of art within China.