According to Chinese media analysts, the market for oil paintings began to expand during the 1980s, and in 1994 auction companies first started showing interest. At the spring sale that year of the newly established China Guardian Auctions, 51 works went up for auction, but earned only RMB1.96 million. Disappointing results, due mainly to the small numbers of painters, collectors and buyers on the scene at the time.
大陸媒體分析，1980 年代，中國油畫市場剛起步，1994 年，拍賣公司才開始涉足油畫市場，新成立的中國嘉德公司在當年春拍的油畫專場推出了 51 件作品，成交額僅有 196 萬人民幣，因為當時畫家、收藏家和買家都少，成效不佳。