After the Second Opium War (1856-1860), Yangliuqing New Year Pictures began to decline. In 1926, Huo Yutang, the fifth-generation descendent of the Huo family founded the Yuchenghao Painting Workshop -- the largest workshop in Yangliuqing. In 1958, Huo jointly established the Tianjin Yangliuqing Picture Workshop with folk artists Han Chunrong and Zhang Xingze, gradually reviving the art of Yangliuqing New Year Pictures.

 The Museum of Yangliuqing New Year Pictures

Located in the courtyard of the Shi family mansion -- an ancient housing complex built in the late Qing Dynasty -- the Museum of Yangliuqing New Year Pictures is a permanent museum displaying various New Year Pictures. Boasting the largest collection of Yangliuqing New Year Pictures in China, the museum collects and displays a wealth of Yangliuqing New Year Pictures produced in the Ming and Qing dynasties and the Republic of China (1912-1949).

The artworks collected here include a very wide range of subjects, which mainly fall into four categories: historical stories, maids of honor and moppets, stage dramas and folk life. They feature soft and beautiful hues and a composition that matches the appreciative habits and folk customs of the people. The human figures portrayed in the works not only look elegant but also complement other subjects in the pictures, creating a harmonious atmosphere.

Another feature of these artworks is their vivid depiction of valuable historical events, folk customs, and so on. For instance, in June 1870 several children died of an infectious disease and were hastily buried by the Waihailou Catholic Church. A few days later, the dead bodies were found. The incident, known as the "Tianjin Religion Case," aggravated Tianjinese animosity towards foreign religions. The church was then burned and a French missionary was killed by the local people. Following the incident, artists of New Year Pictures promptly created the work "Burn the Waihailou Catholic Church".

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