Qian Juntao
BORN: 1907
HOMETOWN: DONGXIANG, ZHEJIANG PROVINCE, CHINA
Qian Juntao (b. 1907-1998), a native of Hai Ning, lived in Shanghai in the 1920s and was a consultant to the Shanghai Calligraphers’ Association, vice president of the Xileng Seal Society, and principal of the Juntao Art Academy.
Qian was a versatile artist who excelled in decorative art, painting, music, and the traditional form of seal engraving, or seal carving. In his early years, he made contributions of graphic design work for several famous literary magazines and went on to edit and publish books on music, fine art, and literature. After his retirement in the early 1970s, he devoted his time to painting, calligraphy, and seal carving, which won him acclaim both overseas and locally.
Perhaps what Qian was most known for were his intricate seals that were featured in his works. These seals, like most Chinese seals, were a type of signature that came in the form of a stamp that displayed the owner’s name, and Qian’s were known to be intricate with long inscriptions. He showed mastery in creative seal-making in both relief carving and intaglio.
There is a sharp contrast evident in his work and a notable shift as his style goes from flowing brushstrokes and ornate calligraphy to being influenced by the modernism and contemporary aspects of the Shanghai-style or “Chinese deco” in 1920. Most of the factors that influenced modern design in China started off with the influence of traditional Chinese arts and crafts, and the artistic style of China was rooted in the traditionalism of the past. Later, these elements were combined with foreign influences–such as Russian Constructivism– to form a more contemporary, dynamic, and modern style in graphic design and fine art. He was capable of both delicate and detailed paintings of flowers and nature as well as bold contemporary poster designs that were non-representational compared to his prior portrayals of natural scenes.
A patron of the arts, Qian was extremely generous when it came to showing his support toward the art world. In 1987 and 1997, he donated his precious collections of more than 4,000 items of art and relics to Dongxiang City, his beloved hometown. Included among Qian’s various publications are Long March Seal Album; Juntao Seal Album; Selection of Exquisite Seals by Qian Juntao on Art; and Traces of Dreams of Spring.