在中國近代歷史（1840－1911年）的巨幅畫卷上，描繪了文明古老的中國終於被轟開了國門，而不得不面對一個嶄新世界的無情挑戰。劇烈動蕩的政治局面，外來經濟的莫大衝擊，不可避免地給思想、文化、藝術領域帶來了巨大影響，與此同時，中國畫壇也發生了令人目眩的變化。最顯著的標誌就是畫壇中心移向南方，其間又以上海最為繁盛，各地畫家紛紛來滬，轟然掀起一股富於時代氣息的新潮流。後人或以畫家相呼，稱為 “海上畫家”，或以地域流派相稱，謂之“海派”。
The Museum is unrivalled in its collection of works by the Shanghai school painters, especially those by the "Four Outstanding Masters'-Chao Zhiqian, Ren Yi, Wu Changshuo, and Xu Gu. Selected words from more than twenty masters are included in the album. Most of the paintings are photographed and published for the first time.
The Museum is unrivalled in its collection of works by the Shanghai school painters, especially those by the "Four Outstanding Masters'-Chao Zhiqian, Ren Yi, Wu Changshuo, and Xu Gu. Selected words from more than twenty masters are included in the album. Most of the paintings are photographed and published for the first time.