Rural painters canvass enduring popularity

A small village in East China has inspired an abiding artistic style. Lin Shujuan reports from Shanghai.

Despite the fact that over the past four decades she has made a living mostly out of painting, Cao Xiuwen still considers herself to be a peasant.

"I have always lived and worked in the village, and I remain quite an expert in almost every aspect of rural life," said a chuckling Cao, who specializes in a unique sort of craft that has been categorized as "peasant art".