A painting on display. [Photo by Jiang Dong/China Daily]

Despite the popularity of Russian art in China, the fans lack a comprehensive understanding of the scope and vigor of modern Russian paintings, especially works that do not follow the dominant Soviet realistic style.

The current exhibition attempts to fill the knowledge gap by focusing on different artists.

Wu Weishan, director of the National Art Museum of China, says the exhibition introduces modern masters who follow the steps of the Peredvizhniki artists, such as Repin and Vsily Surikov, and continue to glorify Russian oil painting in terms of representation and technique.

He says the works show the influence of Russian history and politics, and also the country's natural landscapes.