Zhang Changlin

CHINA, Hebei, Hengshui; Qing dynasty

Zhang Changlin, commonly known as Niren (clay artist) Zhang, was a sculpture artist who specialized in creating clay figurines. He was a native of Shenzhou (present day Shenzhou, Hengshui), but resided in Tianjin during his later years.
Zhang was skilled in creating a variety of images from clay, including images of Buddhist and Daoist figures. His lively and vivid figurines were made using simple colors and of good quality materials that resulted in their durability. His extensive and rich array of clay figures reflected local customs including varying forms of folklore, drama, and classic literature.