The Department of Art at Southeast University boasts a century-long history, producing a large number of outstanding teachers and alumni. Recently, Mr. Xu Jianhua, son of alumnus Xu Feng, visited our college and donated a group photo of the first graduating class of the Art Specialization Program at National Central University. The photo, taken on January 10, 1929, shows all the teachers and students of the first graduating class of the Art Specialization Program at the National Central University's College of Education posing for a group photo in front of the school gymnasium. Among them are renowned teachers Xu Beihong, Lü Fengzi, Gu Liaoran, and Zhang Anzhi, as well as 54 other students and faculty members.

The Department of Art at National Central University was founded in Nanjing in 1927, formed by the merger of the former Jiangsu Provincial Art Specialization Program and the College of Education at National Central University. Initially called the Art Education Specialization Program, it was later renamed the Department of Art, and then the Department of Art. The program length gradually increased from two years to three years and then four years. In its early days, the majors were divided into four groups: Western painting, Chinese painting, crafts, and music, taught by Xu Beihong, Lü Fengzi, Wu Gaiting, and Cheng Mao, respectively. From 1927 to 1930, Li Yishi served as the director, followed by Xu Beihong. Xu Beihong recruited talent from various sources, hiring painting teachers and making significant contributions to the development of art disciplines, with a marked influence on modern art education.

Thanks to the efforts of teachers Yin Wen and Tian Qing, among others, the School of Art organized faculty and students to trace the footsteps of alumni, collecting historical photos and works to integrate alumni resources, complete the school and college history, and carry on the spirit of Southeast University. The School established an "Alumni Column" on the WeChat public platform *Art Southeast* for publicity and collection, which received extensive reprints and responses from media both inside and outside the university. We are delighted that through our WeChat posts, the identities of six alumni were confirmed. Among them, Mr. Zhan Danning, the grandson of Mr. Wang Caibai, recognized Mr. Wang Caibai in a group photo and donated many of his treasured historical photos.

Going forward, this column will serve as a platform for the School to collect alumni profiles and build alumni connections. We welcome alumni and people from all walks of life to provide us with historical photos of our faculty and students, as well as images of their works from various periods. The School of Arts will continue to explore and cultivate alumni resources, trace alumni stories, and spread the alumni spirit.

"Enduring hardship to achieve great things"—the fighting spirit of our predecessors will forever inspire the School of Arts at Southeast University to forge ahead.