Having experienced for centuries leadership under literati of Ming Dynasty, the painting circle started to be guided by retro trends at the early Qing Dynasty. The “Six Masters of Qing” composed of Wang Shimin, Wang Jian, Wang Hui, Wang Yuanqi, Wu Li and Yun Shouping inherited the theory and practice of Dong Qichang, making great influence on the painting directions in the following years.
清朝初年,画坛在明朝文人意气一统江湖之后涌现出一股复古的潮流,以“四王吴恽”为首的清初六家,继承明末董其昌的理论和实践,提倡仿古,左右时风,以正统画学领导画坛,并影响着此后的绘画学习方向。