介绍苏州桃花坞木刻年画社

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苏州桃花坞木刻年画社

　　苏州桃花坞木刻年画已有四百多年的历史,是我国传统艺术珍品.早在明代已有印行,清初更有发展,到乾隆年间达到鼎盛时期；后被人同天津杨柳青年画并称“南桃北柳”而驰誉中外。
　　桃花坞年画题材广泛，构图丰满，刻印精美，线条挺秀飘逸，色彩鲜艳明快，富有装饰性和朴实感。至今仍保持手工木板刻印技术制作具有强烈的乡土气息和地方特色。其内容主要是吉庆、祈福以及历史故事、民间传说、名胜风景、时令习俗和寺观街坊等。为人们所喜闻乐见和追求美好生活的情趣。规格有门画、中堂、条幅、门方，适于张贴和美化环境。
　　近年来，桃花坞年画社在继承传统基础上创作了一批新作，曾多年应邀出国展出和手工印刷表演。受到国际友人的广泛好评，为促进国际民间文化交流和增进友谊作出了贡献。

SUZHOU GAO HUA WU WOODCUT SPRING FESTIVAL PRINTS

　　With 400 years of history,Taohuawu in the city of Suzhou is wellknown at home and abroad for its woodblock new year picture which is a traditional Chinese art treasure. There were already printing and distribution of Taohuawu woodblock new year picture as early as the Ming dynasty. It was further developed in the early Qing dynasty and came up to a period of great prosperity during the reign of Emperor Qian Long. Later it enjoyed equal popularity with Yangliuqing woodblock new year picture in Tianjing and it is reputed as “Taohuawu in the South and Yangliuqing in the North China”.

　　There is a wide-range of subjects in its pictures which are characterized by rich in composition and decoration, tallness and grace in lines, resplendent with colour and plain. It has still preserved the technique of hand cutting and printing with the rich local flavour and characteristics. Its main contents range from propitiousness, blessing, history stories, legends, historical sites

andscenic spots to seasons and folk customs, monasteries and temples, which are popularly loved by the Chinese people and which has also become people’s temperament and interestthat the people are in pursuit of better life. Its specifications vary from Menhua(pictures for doors), central scrolls to vertically-hung scrolls. Doufang (picture or writings on a square piece of paper) which are suitable to putting up on the walls and beautifying the environment.
In the recent years, the Taohuawu Society for woodblock new year picture has created a number of new works basing upon the inheritance of traditional pictures. Its staff members are often invited to exhibit their works or demonstrate hand-printing on the spot in many countries andare well received the overseas friends. And their activites have also contributed to promoting the world cultural exchange and strenthening the friendship the people of China and other countries.

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