1930年代，中國婦女解放運動走向高峰，報刊雜誌開設各類議題，讀者投稿發表意見，掀起一波波討論熱潮。為了攻擊傳統包辦婚姻，「自由戀愛」與「戀愛至上」被視為幸福家庭的基礎，而缺乏愛情的舊式婚姻則備受質疑，因無愛而離婚也被視為合乎道德之事。
梁白波與葉淺予是當時上海最知名的漫畫家。他們一見鍾情，旋赴同居。葉淺予是位有婦之夫，正妻是包辦婚姻下的文盲。梁白波奉行「自由戀愛」，相信兩人終可成立新家庭。不久，正妻突襲同居處，羞辱梁白波。葉淺予遂與正妻離婚，移居南京與梁白波建立新家庭。然而南京一年，兩人感情生變，衝突連連，葉淺予又返回上海，重新與正妻修好。梁白波隨即搬離南京，回到上海，重新投入職場，成為以漫畫為職的新女性。
葉淺予晚年寫回憶錄，留下生動的愛情紀錄。梁白波沒有回憶文字，只留下當時的漫畫。她的漫畫有如文字紀錄，呈現她對這段愛情的期待、困惑、失望與憤怒，解讀這些漫畫，可以讓我們了解一名相信「自由戀愛」之新女性，實踐這些理念時的快樂與痛苦。
In the 1930s, the women’s liberation movement in China was at its peak. Readers submitted letters to the editor in printed media in order to express their opinions on women’s rights, prompting heated discussions. In response to the criticism of traditional arranged marriage, “free love” and “love above all” started to be considered the foundation of a happy family instead. Lack of love in the traditional marriage was often questioned and a reasonable and ethical ground for divorce.
Liang Baibo and Ye Qianyu were the most famous manhua artists in Shanghai at that time. They fell in love at first sight and moved in together soon after, although Ye was already in an arranged marriage to an illiterate wife. Liang was a firm believer in “free love”, and thought she and Ye could eventually start a new family of their own. Shortly after, Ye’s wife raided the love nest of the couple and humiliated Liang. Ye immediately divorced his wife and relocated with Liang to Nanjing. However, the relationship between Liang and Ye quickly deteriorated with numerous fights. Merely one year later, Ye moved back to Shanghai and reunited with his ex-wife. Liang also returned to Shanghai and resumed her previous profession as a manhua artist.
In his later years, Ye wrote a memoir and documented his love for Liang. Liang did not leave any written record of her own but narrated her perspectives through art. Her painting captured her expectation, confusion, disappointment, and anger about her love for Ye. Analyzing Liang’s work allows us to understand a modern woman, a believer in “free love”, and her joy and pain while applying these ideals in practice.
葉淺予; 梁白波; 自由戀愛; 時代漫畫; 摩登女郎
Ye Qianyu; Liang Baibo; Free Love; Modern Sketch; Modern Girl