Abstract: As a key man to link the past and future of China’s art design study in the 20th century,Shen Congwen turned from literature creation to material cultural study in his afterlife for exterior reasons.It was also because that he had followed his lifelong affection for practical fine art.From the perspective of academic history,Shen’s study methods and relevant results were deeper and more conscious than the practical fine art of his time.His study in the scope of material culture has indirectly influenced the construction of study branches of art design since the 1980s,and is an important point in the history of China’s modern art design.

Key words: Shen Congwen, arts and crafts, the study of art design, academic history