early life and artistic beginnings chen hengke, a prominent figure in early 20th-century chinese art, was born in 1876. despite the scarcity of documents on his life, it is known that chen's artistic journey began with traditional chinese painting techniques, which he later blended with western influences. artistic style and notable works chen hengke's work is characterized by its unique fusion of traditional chinese elements with the realism of western art. two of his notable works include: the beggars (1915), a poignant depiction of social realities, showcasing chen's ability to balance co…