Chen Shizeng

In 1902, he pursued further studies in Japan, focusing on natural history while maintaining his practice in traditional Chinese painting and exploring Western art.

Shizeng believed in the value of traditional Chinese painting although he wasn't strictly conservative and would approve of learning from Western Art and experimenting with their innovative techniques.

Shen Zhou, Shi Tao, Kuncan, Gong Xian, and Lan Ying are noted to have influenced his landscape paintings.

The books subject focused on the history of Chinese scholar-painters (“literati”) who incorporated their knowledge of poetry and other arts into the paintings they created.

Shizeng argued in the book that moral quality, scholarship, literary talent, and emotion were the four essential factors of literati painting.