Wu Fuzhi (1900-1977), whose literary name was Wu Luyu, came from Wucun village in Pujiang county in Jinhua city, situated in East China's Zhejiang province. He came from a long line of artists in his family and loved fine art. At the age of 19, he began to learn from master Chen Younian.
In 1922, he entered the Private Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts. Inspired by Wu Changshuo, he changed his painting style to impressionism. After graduation, he went to the Suzhou No 1 Normal School and Huai'an Middle School to teach fine art.
In 1928, he published Fuzhi Huagao, or Fuzhi's Painting Draft. In 1929, he returned to the Private Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts as a professor. In 1932 he organized the Baishe Painting Society with five colleagues, including Pan Tianshou, to inherit and pass on the innovative spirit of the Yangzhou school of painting in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).
Wu had a talent for presenting lively and interesting painting demonstrations and explaining his skills, which proved very popular among students in Shanghai in the 1930s.
With the outbreak of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45), Wu staged ancient and modern painting and calligraphy exhibitions in Shanghai, sparing no effort to raise funds for the national salvation.
After liberation, while working at the East China Branch of the Central Academy of Fine Arts – the predecessor of Zhejiang Academy of Fine Arts – he made contributions to the study of national paintings.
In 1957, he served as dean of the Chinese Painting Department. The Subject-Specific Teaching in Chinese painting he pioneered emphasizes the independence of Chinese painting teaching and innovation on the basis of inheriting tradition. He also advocated character education.
On July 26, 1977, Wu Fuzhi passed away.
