Portrait of Leo Tolstoy (1887), by Ilya Yefimovich Repin. [Photo provided to China Daily]

"I hope Chinese viewers will be attracted to her as much as we are."

Yang Zhigang, director of the Shanghai Museum, says: "The Russian influence is widely present in China's modern and contemporary artworks, and the Wanderers have had the foremost impact."

To help audiences understand the rich connections between Russian and Chinese art, the museum has made a short documentary.

Leading Chinese artists, critics and academics talk about their experiences and lessons from the Wanderers, and how Russian art impacted Chinese art for half a century. The documentary is being screened at the exhibition.

"We welcome visitors from all over the world to appreciate the glory of Russian art in Shanghai. This is the beginning of a great partnership," Yang says.

"And, in a few years Shanghai Museum will open a new East Wing, where we will have a hall especially for oil paintings. Then, I am sure we will be able to showcase more international masterpieces."