Late modern painter Liu Wenxi is often hailed as "an artist of the people", for his realistic style of painting that documented the lives of ordinary Chinese in the 20th century.

Art for People, an ongoing exhibition at the National Museum of China through Nov 1, pays tribute to Liu's accomplishments.

On show are more than 200 paintings, drawings and sketches, as well as manuscripts and photos, reviewing his lifelong dedication to grassroots society.

Liu spent most of his time in Northwest China, where he traveled and sketched in remote villages. His paintings capture the appearances and emotions of farmers, and show developments in their lives through the decades. Some of the works were created on long scrolls and are on show in public for the first time.