Zhao Yu (1926-1980) was born in Xiaoyi, Shanxi Province. After he joined the People’s Liberation Army, he became engaged in
propaganda work. He also was editor of the Northeast China Illustrated [东北画报，Dongbei huabao]. After the founding of the PRC, he worked in the People’s Fine Arts
Publishing House, Beijing Normal University and the Central Art Academy.
In 1972, Zhao was the artist designated to assist Dong Xiwen, who was seriously ill by then, to paint the fourth version of
the painting above, The Founding of the Nation [开国大典，Kaiguo dadian]. This had become necessary because certain persons, including
Liu Shaoqi, who had come under a cloud during the Cultural Revolution or who had fallen foul
of Jiang Qing, had to be removed.
Sources:
Julia F. Andrews, Painters and Politics in the People's Republic of China 1949-1979 (Berkeley, etc.: University of California Press, 1994)
Chen Lusheng, Xin Zhongguo meishu tushi—1949-1966 [The Art History of the People's Republic of China—1949-1966] (Beijing: Zhongguo qingnian chubanshe, 2000) [in Chinese]
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s.r.landsberger@let.leidenuniv.nl
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