开封朱仙镇木版年画取材于历史、戏曲、神话、传说、故事、演义小说、现实生活等,从产生至今,题材内容有着相对的稳定性.按照题材的创作年代,目前开封朱仙镇仍在刻印的年画主要分为:建国前的传统年画、20世纪60年代新年画运动时期的新年画、成为物质文化遗产后的创新年画等三类,其中,传统年画题材在目前正在流通使用的题材中占到了73%以上,且不同艺人在持续的再生产过程中对传统题材的选择呈现出较大的共性;而创新年画则体现了更明显的多元化特征,艺人的个性更加彰显.在传统年画中,门神为主、多戏曲年画、重英雄情义、远离世俗、近代缺失等特征明显,共同表达了年画所承载的地方文化,更值得关注.
The themes of Zhuxian Town Wood Engraving Pictures root in history, traditional opera, myth, legend, story, novel, real life, etc. Largely, they remained stable in more than 1 000 years. According to the creative time, they could be divided into 3 categories: traditional themes before 1949; new themes in 1960'; innovative themes after being the National Intangible Cultural Heritage. In the pictures being printed nowadays, the traditional themes earn more than 73%; besides, different handicraftsmen often choose the similar themes. At the same time, the innovative themes show clear diversification, and the personalities of the handicraftsmen become more important. The five distinctive features of traditional themes express the local culture together. It's sure that the culture is deserving more attentions.