Chi Chen
The Spirit of the Brush In the quiet landscapes of Wuxi, Jiangsu, a young man named Chi Chen began to cultivate a vision that would eventually span two continents. Born in 1912, his early years were rooted in the traditions of China, where he later shared his knowledge as a teacher at the Wu Pen and Huai Chiu high schools for girls. His hands learned the delicate mastery of brush and color during a time when his art began to find its v…
The Lifeline
Scroll through Chi Chen's working life — artwork by artwork, chapter by chapter — from the earliest dated work to the last. Each thumbnail is pinned at its exact year on the gold axis.
Chapters — Career Periods
The ribbon is divided into shaded bands, one per career chapter. Each chapter groups Chi Chen's works by their historical period — early training, mature practice, final years.
Thumbnails — Dated Works
Every thumbnail is pinned at its precise creation year. A thin gold thread drops from the image to its exact point on the axis. Larger frames mark the artist's masterpieces by rank.
Colour Band — Movement Drift
The gradient bar beneath the axis shifts colour as the dominant art movement changes over time — from the warm golds of the early period through the deeper tones of maturity. It fills progressively as you scroll.