The study of modern art in China can be divided into Chinese and foreign art history, basic art theory and criticism, and art archaeology. In terms of methods, it can be divided into three types: traditional, exotic and comprehensive. Due to the unstable environment, it was not until the 1980s that a systematic and comprehensive masterpiece was created, and many achievements were made. Drawing lessons from the achievements and methods of western natural science and social science in the 20th century to study the history and present situation of Chinese and foreign fine arts began in the 1930s, but the real progress was made in the 1980s. In a word, Marxist viewpoints and methods run through the research, which has become a remarkable feature of China's fine arts research in recent 40 years.

In the study of China's art history, Chen Shiceng, Pan Tianshou, Zheng Chang, Qin Zhongwen, Fu Baoshi, Yu Jianhua, Gu Teng, Hu Man, Li Yu, Yan Lichuan, Wang Xun, Wang Bomin, A Ying and Wang Ziyun have all written works on general history, special history or dynastic history. Among them, Zheng Chang's A General History of Painting in China and Gu Teng's A History of Painting in Tang and Song Dynasties were famous for their unique and rigorous views before 1950s. Historical works published after 1950s all tried to integrate historical materialism to answer the complicated phenomenon of art history, but under the influence of "Left" political climate, they were influenced by simplistic and vulgar sociology. There are many monographs that exceed the general historical works in depth, especially the new discoveries of art archaeology and their corresponding empirical studies, which are of far-reaching significance. Other historians are engaged in sorting out the historical records of art and compiling chronological dictionaries, such as Huang's Art Series, His Painting History Series, His Calligraphy and Painting Problems, His Dictionary of China Artists' Surnames, Dunhuang Research Institute's Contents of Mogao Grottoes, Zheng Zhenduo's Works on Historical Materials of Ancient and Modern Art, Historical Records, etc. The Palace Museum, the National Palace Museum in Taipei, the Cultural Relics Publishing House and other cultural and artistic institutions have edited and published a large number of art albums and historical materials of cultural relics, which are also very important achievements. The large-scale art series The Complete Works of China (60 volumes) and The General History of China Art edited by Wang Bomin (8 volumes) were published one after another. In addition, there are some large-scale historical works and series in preparation.

The situation of art theory is roughly similar to the above situation. Some old painters in the early years of the Republic of China only had sporadic painting quotations or essays. Systematic theoretical works are written by people who have been influenced by western culture. According to Cai Yuanpei's aesthetic education theory, Kang Youwei's emphasis on the study of steles, re-evaluation of artistic traditions, Lu Xun's series of expositions on the Art Nouveau Movement, many works by Zong Baihua, Deng Yizhe, Wu Yifei and Feng Zikai, as well as Chinese and foreign artistic traditions and aesthetic traditions, and articles written by some famous painters such as Lin Fengmian, Xu Beihong and Ni Yide to publicize their artistic thoughts all contain unique theories. But in general, these theories are not systematic enough, and the characteristics of introduction and experience are relatively strong. However, since the late Qing Dynasty, the lifeless art theory garden has become a new world full of vitality and strength.