A joint painting by Qi Baishi and Xu Beihong. (Photo: China Daily)

In October 1947, an exhibition bringing together three preeminent painters opened at a hotel in Tianjin. On show were works by Xu Beihong, Zhang Daqian and Qi Baishi, three pioneers in the reform of classical Chinese ink art in the 20th century.

The exhibition --- the only joint art show of the three in their lifetime --- voiced strongly their belief in modernizing Chinese works, although with different approaches of their own.

In Nov 7, an exhibition will be unveiled at Xu's former residence Peon Art Museum in Chongqing, paying homage to that three-man exhibition held more than seven decades ago.

On show will be works by the three master artists to mark their courage to challenge rigid academic rules and experimental spirit to usher a long-standing form of art into a new era.

A joint painting by Qi Baishi and Zhang Daqian. (Photo: China Daily)

A photo taken in 1936 shows Xu Beihong (front) and Zhang Daqian, the bearded man also holding a stick and standing atop, during a trip at Huangshan Mountain. (Photo: China Daily)

A photo taken in 1948 shows Xu Beihong (left), his wife Liao Jingwen and Qi Baishi. (Photo: China Daily)

Hollyhock Flowers and Shrimps, a joint painting by Xu Beihong and Qi Baishi. (Photo: China Daily)

Lotus and Shrimps, a joint painting by Qi Baishi and Zhang Daqian. (Photo: China Daily)