Label Type
Technique or ProcessLabel
Digging the Irrigation Well
Fan Zhihua (Chinese, b. 1943)
1994 recreation of a 1974 painting
Paint on rice paper
Gift of Andrea and Irv Green, 2019.1.4Label Type
Cultural/Historical ContextLabel
The loose, sandy clay in western Huxian made the construction of wells challenging. Fan Zhihua was tasked with painting this bird’s-eye view to show farmers how to dig irrigation wells to increase agricultural production. The traditional method, shown here, produces what is called a “broad mouth well.” Its concentric, narrowing rings prevent loose soil from sliding into the deeper sections. Once the desired depth is reached, the narrowest part is lined with brick, and the upper sections are gradually filled in as the brick lining rises to the surface. The placard at the site promotes “Safety and Production.”
This painting – one of five recreated versions by Fan with slight changes in composition and perspective – was originally a mural and later reinterpreted on paper, as seen here. Though Fan never dug wells himself, he observed the process and described the theme as “man will be able to conquer nature.” The scene highlights efficient teamwork, with men and women (note the woman in red with a shovel) working side by side, reflecting the Maoist-era emphasis on gender equality and collective labor. Commissioned to promote irrigation and agricultural development, this painting showcases both the Realist style of Huxian art and its function as state propaganda.
Fan was an active member of several prominent art organizations, including the Shaanxi Provincial Artists Association and the Huxian Peasant Art Institute. Two of his works are in the National Gallery in Beijing.