THE CONTRIBUTION OF LU XUN, AN ARTIST DURING WAR AGAINST JAPANESE, THROUGH PRINTMAKING AS A MEDIUM OF VISUAL COMMUNICATION

Abstract

During China's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931 – 1945), Lu Xun introduced the modern woodcut movement, which combined painting, engraving, and printing techniques into a unified artistic expression. This movement aimed to create a 'powerful beauty' in printmaking, using the contrast of black and white to convey strong ideological messages. The historical method is employed in this study, as it provides a rigorous framework for analyzing documentation from archives, records, books, journals, and electronic data. This method is essential for understanding the context and evolution of artistic movements, particularly in relation to the social and political forces of the time. This paper further analyzes the artistic techniques and visual elements of woodcut prints during the war period, investigating how these elements contributed to the propagation of anti-Japanese sentiment and the broader cultural movement.