Wáng Zhèn 王震
Wáng Zhèn 王震 (1867—1938)
Courtesy Name: Yī Tíng 一亭
Art Name: Báilóng Shānrén 白龍山人, Méihuā Guǎnzhǔ 梅花館主, Hǎiyún Lóuzhǔ 海雲樓主
Dharma Name: Jué Qì 覺器
Born in Pudong area in Shanghai to a family originally coming from Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, Wáng Zhèn 王震 (1867—1938) showed strong interest in painting at an early age though he had never received any formal artistic training until he was sixteen. Due to the straitened circumstances of his family, Wang quitted school and became an apprentice at an old-style private bank at the age of thirteen. In his spare time, he continued his literary study under established scholars, practiced painting as well as went to Shanghai Guangfangyan Guan (Institute of Various Languages) to learn Japanese. After Wang’s three-year apprenticeship, the bank’s owner, the Li Family recommended him for a position at another banking institution and referred him to Xú Xiáng 徐祥 (1850—1899), a Shanghai School painter who was at the time a student of Rèn Bónián 任伯年 (1840—1896). Under the guidance of Xu, Wang studied the style of Mǐn Zhēn 閔貞 (1730—?) whose strong influences on him were revealed in his figure paintings. Frequently staying at a framing store where he found opportunities to copy paintings by masters including Rèn Bónián, Wang became Ren’s student after Ren accidentally discovered Wang’s high-quality forgeries which greatly impressed him. Appointed by the Li Family as their broker in 1886, Wang was soon promoted to be the manager of the family’s shipping industry. He started his career as a comprador for a Japanese steamship company in 1902 as well as built strong connections with Japanese art and business circle. In 1906 Wang was named the president of the southern branch of Shanghai Chamber of Commerce and the director of Xincheng Bank, the first private savings bank in China. In the same year, he founded Shanghai Orphanage (which was later shut down due to the war), which was a start of his life-long devotion to charitable activities.
Having established Yuyuan Shuhua Shanhui (Yuyuan Calligraphy and Painting Charitable Association) 豫園書畫善會 in 1909, Wang, along with other painters, held several painting sales to raise fund for disaster relief services in the following years. Wang joined the revolutionary group Tongmeng Hui 同盟會in 1910. Shortly after the Wuchang Uprising in 1911, the revolutionary army led by him attacked and captured Jiangnan Arsenal in Shanghai. As the temporary local government of Shanghai was established in the same year, Wang took the job of Minister of Agriculture, Industry and Business but quitted several months later. In 1913, after the failure of KMT’s “Second Revolution”, Wang retired from politics due to Yuán Shìkǎi’s 袁世凱 (1859—1916) political persecution against him. After that he fully devoted himself to philanthropic work as well as artistic endeavors, establishing a strong friendship with Wú Chāngshuò 吴昌硕 / 吳昌碩 (1844—1927). In the same year, Wang founded the Chinese Anti-Kidnapping Society together with other merchants and bankers in Shanghai. In the November of 1919, he was appointed as one of the trustees of Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts founded by Liú Haǐsù 刘海粟 / 劉海粟 (1896—1994) and was invited to instruct traditional Chinese painting at the academy in 1927. Wang became a member of the artist group Tianma Hui 天馬會 in 1920. One of the initiators of the first Sino-Japanese painting exhibition held in 1921 and an active participator of the successive four exhibitions, Wang played a significant role in cultural exchanges between Japan and China during 1920s. After the outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War, he moved to Hong Kong in 1938.
Zimeng Xiang
Sources:
Chen, Zuen and Huaxing Li. Bailongshanren: Wang Yiting Zhuan 白龍山人：王一亭傳. Shanghai: Shanghai ci shu chu ban she, 2007.
