Background

Tianjin folk painted sculpture is represented by the "Clay Figurine Zhang" painted sculptured. "Clay Figurine Zhang" got its name from the well-known folk clay sculpture artist Zhang Mingshan who lived in Tianjin at the end of the Qing Dynasty. Zhang not only inherited Chinese traditional clay sculpture art but also outwitted clay sculpture artists in earlier times to reach new heights in terms of subjects, image creation and his three unique techniques, such as "hiding clay in the sleeves", "seeing the heart in the portrait" and "selecting the best from the masses". His art has been popular with the people Zhang's clay figurines, saying that "the figurines' exact even surpass those of Yang Hui, the best sculpture artist in the Tang Dynasty".

Zhang Yuting, son of Zhang Mingshan, inherited his father' s three unique techniques and made breakthroughs in terms of art. His works were not only realistic but also full of imaginations, presenting efforts of five generations of artists from the Zhang family, the "clay figurine Zhang" clay sculpture has became a splendid art. It is not only an important cultural speciality of Tianjin but also a gem stone in China's cultural garden.

The four stamps are based on the works of three generations of masters of "clay figurine hang". They are "Two Hehe Gods" by Zhang Mingshan, "Candy-blowing Man" and "Returning after Fishing" by Zhang Yuting and "Xichun Drawing a Picture" by Zhang Jinggu. The stamps depict the exquisite workmanship and unique artistic features of the painted sculpture of "clay figurine Zhang" from several different angles .They include elegant god with an easy grace, in tensely alive and life-like artists in the streets; the "Returning, after Fishing" is handsome, quietly elegant and full of wit; the pretty, gentle and cultivated lady is an exclusive of the Zhang. All these demonstrate that the "clay figurine Zhang" painted sculptures are unique and have a wide range of subjects, that the clay figurine artists pay more attention to the vivid portrayal of details in creating their clay figurines and not over-elaborate the nitty-gritty details, and that they also lay stress upon similarity with a vivid touch.

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