Verse Under Green Shade includes a poem titled “Passing by the Residence of the Female Sculptor Wang Jingyuan,” likely written around 1963–64. Wang Jingyuan (1884–1971) was China’s first modern female sculptor. In 1918, she went to France, enrolling in the sculpture department of the École Nationale des Beaux-Arts de Lyon (today’s École des Beaux-Arts de Lyon). After returning to China in 1928, she taught at the National Art Academy in Hangzhou. At the First National Art Exhibition organized by the Ministry of Education in 1929, four of her sculptures—Bust of the Premier, Bust of an American, Grieving Woman, and Dog—were selected for exhibition and received favorable reviews. In 1931, Wang Jingyuan took up a position as professor of sculpture at Beiping Art Academy. At that time, Li Xuying had just begun her own teaching career at the academy. The two thus crossed paths, though the depth of their relationship is impossible to determine. By the 1960s, the art academy no longer existed, and Li Xuying had long since left art education. This poem is therefore written for an old acquaintance and also serves as a meditation on the past.
Visiting the Residence of the Female Sculptor Wang Jingyuan
Her chosen home lies as if in a fairyland,
A deep, secluded courtyard opens onto another world.
Ivy vines veil the doors,
Sparse bamboo stands tall, washing away the dust of life.
Slanting sun settles on willows by the old palace halls,
Cold moonlight ripples across moss on the jade-white bank.
Here she nurtured heart and soul from dawn to dusk,
In years past, lending her aid to cultivate gifted minds.
Although the Art Academy employed women teachers from its founding, their numbers were small and documentation is scarce. Below is a brief list of female teachers in the departments of Chinese painting, Western painting, and design before 1938; further additions may be made in the future as time and energy permit.
Shao Bifang: The academy’s first female teacher, appointed to the Western painting department when the school was founded in 1918. She had studied in Japan and was exceptionally talented, but tragically died young.
Zhang Guang (1878–1970 courtesy name Hongwei): One of the earliest female teachers in the Chinese painting department, joining the faculty in 1926. She specialized in flower-and-bird painting; her works are noted for their refined brushwork and elegant, luminous coloring. She held numerous exhibitions and taught many students. Among the female teachers associated with the academy, she enjoyed one of the longest professional careers.
Shi Bingzhuang (courtesy name Huanqiu): The second eldest of the renowned “Three Qiu” sisters of the Shi family in the Fujian province. She served as a female teacher in the Chinese painting department in 1926. Her elder sister, Shi Bingduan, was a member of the first graduating class of the academy’s Chinese painting department. In the 1930s and 1940s, the three sisters successively held the Sanqiu Painting Exhibitions in Beijing, Shanghai, Qingdao, and Hangzhou, achieving widespread acclaim.
Liu Wenru: A teacher in the Western painting department, in post from 1926 to 1927. (It is unclear whether she is the same Liu Wenru, also a painting teacher at the Hangzhou Art Academy, who was involved in the well-known “homosexual bloodshed case” in Hangzhou in 1932.)
Gao Shufang (courtesy name Lifang): Beginning in 1926, she served as an assistant instructor in the design department and was likely among the earliest female teachers hired there. She studied in France and, together with classmates such as Yang Dihuan, founded the Snowflake Society and the Lifu Design Society.
Li Qi (courtesy name Biyun): Taught figure drawing in the Western painting department from 1927 to 1928.
Yan Ailan (courtesy name Yujie): Served as an assistant instructor in the Chinese painting department in 1928 and 1929.
Yang Yunfu (courtesy name Dihuan): A student who studied in France; taught in the design department in 1928. She was the wife of the renowned designer Li Youxing.
Xu Lanzhen: A teacher in the Western painting department in 1928. She had previously been a student at the academy and, together with her classmate Wang Xuetao, studied under Qi Baishi. She married Wang Xuetao in 1928, and Qi Baishi renamed her Xu Peixia.
Fang Yun (1900–?): Courtesy name Liangxi; taught in the design department from 1928 to 1932. She studied textile design and ceramic painting at the École Nationale des Beaux-Arts de Lyon.
Wang Lihua: Assistant instructor in the design department in 1930; from 1931 to 1932 she taught management of applied arts workshops in the academy’s architecture department. She co-founded the Xuli Design Society with Li Xuying and held exhibitions together.
《绿荫诗词吟草》里收集了一首《过女雕塑家王静远居》，大约作于1963、64年。王静远（1884-1971）是中国第一位现代女雕塑家，1918年赴法国留学，就读于里昂国立美术专科学校（今天的里昂美院）雕塑系。1928年回国后现在杭州国立艺术学院教书。在1929年教育部举办的首届全国美展中，她的雕塑作品《总理半身像》《美国人半身像》《悲怆女人》和《狗》4件作品入选展出， 受到好评。1931年，王静远到北平艺专任雕塑教授，那时候李旭英也刚刚开始在艺专的教学生涯，两人有了交集，但是交情深浅，无从得知。60年代，艺专已经不复存在，李旭英离开艺术教育也已多年，这首诗是写的是故人，也是对过往的思怀。
艺专虽然从成立之初就雇用女教师，但是人数不多，资料更少。在此简单罗列一些1938年前国画、西画和图案专业的女教师，以后有精力再补充。
邵碧芳：艺专第一位女教师，1918年建校时受聘于西画系。她留日归来，才华横溢，可惜英年早逝。
张光（1878-1970，号红薇）：是艺专国画科最早的女教师之一，1926年入职。她擅长花卉、翎毛，其作品笔致秀雅，设色妍丽。她曾多次举办画展，并育人无数。在于艺专有关联的女教师中，她是事业线比较长的一位。
施秉庄：字浣秋，福建画坛著名的施氏三秋中的二姊。1926年曾任艺专国画科女教师。她的姐姐施秉端是艺专国画系的首届毕业生。三、四十年代，姊妹三人曾先后在北京、上海、青岛、杭州举办三秋画展，名噪一時。
刘文如：西画科教师，1926-1927年在职。（不知是否与1932年杭州著名的“同性爱的血案”中杭州艺专绘画教师刘文如为同一人）。
高淑芳：字立芳，1926年起于图案科做助教，大约是该科最早聘用的女教师。留法学生。曾与同学杨滌玄等起雪花社，立孚图案社。
李琦：字碧云，1927-1928年于艺专西画系教人体。
延爱兰：字玉阶，1928年，29年间国画系助教。
杨允孚：字滌玄，留法学生。1928年图案系教师。著名图案家李有行之妻。
徐兰贞：1928年西画科教师。她曾是艺专的学生，与同学王雪涛同拜齐白石为师，并于1928年结为夫妻。齐白石给她改名徐佩蕸。
方蕴（1900-？）： 字良西，1928-32年间任教于艺专图案系。曾于里昂国立美术专科学校学习纺织设计和陶瓷绘画。
汪黎化：1930年图案系助教，1931-32年间，在艺专建筑系教实用美术工场管理。她曾与李旭英结旭黎图案社，并举办展览。