Why do most of the paintings in national exhibitions now pursue realism and realism? Are they moving in the direction of photography?

We say that most of the paintings on display in China now pursue realism, which reflects a trend in today's painting world and has something to do with the mainstream of world painting development-painting market, but it has nothing to do with photography.

As we all know, realistic painting originated in the west, or it is a tradition of western oil painting. Since the advent of oil painting, realistic painting based on sketch with figurative modeling as the main expression technique has been accompanied by oil painting. Since15th century, it has been the main form of western oil painting, leading the mainstream and development direction of western painting, and forming a scientific, systematic and complete painting theory system.

Most of the existing classic paintings come from realistic oil paintings. The oil painting represented by realism has become the mainstream painting with the largest audience, the widest coverage and the greatest influence in the world.

Western oil painting was introduced to China in the early 20th century, and made great progress through the efforts of artists from generation to generation. China's oil paintings with China's national cultural characteristics are becoming more and more influential at home and abroad, and their development scale and situation even exceed that of traditional Chinese paintings.

It is undeniable that, in a broad sense, people appreciate and love paintings with accurate shapes, vivid images and bright colors, because in the eyes of more people, only paintings with vivid images and objective images are more like paintings and are good paintings. This extensive artistic cognitive psychology is the social foundation and audience foundation of realistic painting, and it is also the main reason why oil painting can become the main kind of painting in the world.

Artists have been exploring the innovative development of realistic painting, including the integration of western oil painting sketches into Chinese painting and the integration of Chinese painting freehand brushwork into oil painting creation. I think as an artistic exploration, this is a useful attempt, worthy of recognition and understandable. There is no reason for some people who don't pretend to understand art to criticize and accuse art.

To put it simply, most of the paintings exhibited in China now pursue realism, which shows that realistic paintings are loved by many people, and there is a market and a development prospect. Of course, judging from the requirements of artistic development, this situation should and will change.