Min Shuqian's (1919-2010) career as a painter and educator, which spanned some five decades, exemplifies an evolution in artistic styles in 20th-century China.

A graduate of Hangzhou College of Fine Arts, now the China Academy of Art, Min's early works show solid training in oil painting techniques under the instruction of many teachers who were educated in Europe. His paintings created from the 1950s through the '80s show an adoption of the style of Soviet socialist realism. He turned to the genre of classic Chinese ink painting in his later years to produce abstract works transmitting an Eastern elegance.

An exhibition now running at the National Art Museum of China through June 2 marks Min's centennial with 89 drawings, ink paintings and oil works.