Xu Beihong: Bridging Tradition and Innovation in Modern Chinese Art Xu Beihong, born Xu Shoukang on July 19, 1895, in Yixing, Jiangsu province, stands as a monumental figure in 20th-century Chinese art. His life was a compelling narrative of artistic evolution—a dedication to forging a new path for Chinese painting—one that harmoniously blended the rich traditions of his homeland with the innovations of Western art. From humble beginnings steeped in classical learning and traditional brushwork under the tutelage of his father, Xu Dazhang, a struggling artist himself, young Beihong’s early li…