Up in Arms: New Materials in the Collection of the Wason Collection

Up in Arms: New Materials in the Collection of the Wason Collection by Ellen Johnston Laing catalogs and analyzes recent acquisitions of Chinese propaganda posters from the 1950s and 1960s. The collection focuses specifically on materials related to agricultural policies and social movements in Communist China. The book examines the artistic style, symbolism, and production methods of these propaganda materials through detailed visual analysis. Materials covered include woodblock prints, paintings, and mass-produced posters used to communicate party messages to rural populations. Documentation and commentary on the historical context accompanies each featured work, placing the visual elements within China's broader political climate of the era. The text also includes information about the artists, printing workshops, and distribution networks involved in creating these materials. The collection provides insights into how visual art and graphic design served as tools for political messaging and social transformation in mid-twentieth century China. This scholarly work contributes to understanding the intersection of art, politics, and mass communication during this period.

There are not enough internet reviews to create a summary of this book. Instead, here is a summary of reviews of Ellen Johnston Laing's overall work: Limited reader reviews are available online for Ellen Johnston Laing's academic works. The books appear primarily in university libraries and scholarly collections rather than consumer review platforms. Readers in academic reviews appreciate: - Detailed analysis of primary sources and archival materials - Focus on previously understudied Chinese women artists - Clear connections between art and broader cultural contexts Points of critique from academic reviewers: - Dense academic writing style that can be difficult for non-specialists - Limited availability and high costs of some volumes - Some dated methodological approaches in earlier works No ratings are currently available on Goodreads or Amazon for her major works. Her books receive occasional citations and reviews in academic journals but rarely appear on consumer book platforms.

Chinese Art and Culture by Robert L. Thorp and Richard Ellis Vinograd This reference work presents a chronological examination of Chinese art collections with particular focus on acquisitions and institutional holdings.

East Asian Art and American Culture by Warren I. Cohen The text documents the history of East Asian art collecting in America through institutional and private collection development.

The Politics of Culture: The Case of Chinese Art Collections by Chi-jung Chang This study examines the intersection of politics, cultural property, and the formation of major Chinese art collections.

Lost and Found: The Chinese Art Collection of Sir Percival David by Stacey Pierson The book traces the development of one of the most significant Chinese art collections through its acquisition history and documentation.

Museums of Tomorrow: Collecting Asian Art in the Early 20th Century by Alice Y. Tseng The work analyzes early institutional approaches to collecting and categorizing Asian art objects in Western museums.

🔸 The Wason Collection, housed at Cornell University, is one of North America's largest and most comprehensive collections of materials on East Asia, with particular strength in its China holdings. 🔸 Ellen Johnston Laing is a renowned art historian specializing in Chinese art, who has made significant contributions to the study of Chinese popular prints and paintings from the Ming and Qing dynasties. 🔸 The title "Up in Arms" refers to Chinese military-themed materials and propaganda pieces that were added to the Wason Collection, reflecting a crucial period in modern Chinese history. 🔸 The Wason Collection was established in 1918 through a generous donation by Charles William Wason, who believed that Americans needed to better understand China and its civilization. 🔸 The collection contains rare materials from the Republican period (1912-1949) of China, including unique documents about military operations, political movements, and social changes during this turbulent era.