The narrative approach, centered on individual painters, perpetuates the limitations of traditional art history. Because it doesn't focus on macro-historical trends, it inevitably suffers from a "seeing the trees but not the forest" mentality. The authors' selection of painters also largely follows traditional views, habitually devoting considerable space to the most famous literati painters, while either simplifying or omitting non-literati painters and female painters. This volume aims to change this, giving more space to the latter; but more importantly, it integrates individual painters into the overall art movement, presenting their cases within the broader context of historical events.
以独立画家为纲的叙事方法延续了传统画史的局限，由于不把宏观历史潮流作为主要观察对象，难免会出现见木不见林之感。写作者对画家的选择也多因循传统看法，习惯性地将大量篇幅给予最著名的文人画家，非文人画家和女性画家或从简，或付之阙如。本卷希望尽力改变这种情况，给予后者更多的讨论篇幅；但更重要的是把单个画家纳入整体艺术潮流之中，在讲述更广阔历史运动的过程中呈现出画家个案。
以独立画家为纲的叙事方法延续了传统画史的局限，由于不把宏观历史潮流作为主要观察对象，难免会出现见木不见林之感。写作者对画家的选择也多因循传统看法，习惯性地将大量篇幅给予最著名的文人画家，非文人画家和女性画家或从简，或付之阙如。本卷希望尽力改变这种情况，给予后者更多的讨论篇幅；但更重要的是把单个画家纳入整体艺术潮流之中，在讲述更广阔历史运动的过程中呈现出画家个案。
