每一時代的社會情況、經濟制度、生活方式、人民的世界觀及審美態度等因素，深切地影響藝術家創作之理念與形式，因而產生當代獨特的藝術樣式。 明永曆15年至清光緒20年，臺灣的傳統繪畫和中原的繪畫系統一脈相連，以簡逸的文人畫風格為主流，其表現的內容是擬古的花鳥或四君子畫等，著重筆墨情趣的追求。 逮清光緒21年至民國34年8月，由於政局的變動，原有的繪畫潮流也隨之更迭。從日本畫的傳入，間接帶來西方後期印象主義繪畫思潮的洗禮，並趁勢得以回溯我國唐宋注重線描賦彩的古風。畫家們多寫生自然，或積極描繪日常生活的景象，作品落實現世性的題材，而呈顯出濃馥之鄉土情懷，為傳統繪畫注入新的內涵。

The artists' ideas and forms of recreation are both profoundly influenced by factors such as society, economic systems, life style, Weltanschauung and esthetic notions. The unique art style of a certain period of time is thus formed. Between 1661 and 1894, the art in Taiwan, like that in China at large, was dominated by the traditional style of the literati, especially in painting and calligraphy. The subjects of paint-ing were flowers and birds and the Four Gentlemen in traditional style. Until 1895 to 1945, the original painting trend was changed because of the political situa-ponjin the country. With the introduction of Japanese paining, the influence of western tech-niques was brought forward. To sum up, the rebirth of a local art tradition demonstrated a strong link between modern style and traditional art familiar to the public. The Taiwanese artists managed to depict a whole range of new subject matters reflecting a bright new image of the island. They took scenes from daily life and presented a feeling of nostalgia.