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LOT 1338PROPERTY FROM A PRIVATE TAIWANESE COLLECTIONThe construction of the Central Cross-Island Highway in Taiwan was one of the island’s great engineering feats of the 1950s. When Zhang Daqian was invited to the highway during its opening, the spectacular scenery along the road led the way for years of inspiration and compositions for his paintings.Throughout the panoramic landscape, ancient architecture and the imposing waterfall are connected by the meandering road, while cliffs shown on the side are dominated by precipitous rock faces. The artist created sparse contours with a dry brush, and illustrated most of the painting using a wet brush shading technique to bring to life the leafy forests and misty atmosphere amid clouds and cascades. In the accompanying calligraphic scroll, Zhang Daqian composed a poem in praise of the majestic landscape along the Central Cross-Island Highway, dedicating it to his good friend and Taiwanese artist, Zhang Gunian. Residing in Brazil at the time, Zhang Daqian’s words reveal his pride in Taiwan’s beauty as well as a sense of personal nostalgia.Zhang Gunian (1905-1987) was an artist and art educator. The nephew of eminent artist Feng Chaoran (1882-1954), he started to study with Feng from a young age and painted for a living from the age of 16. In 1949, Zhang emigrated to Taiwan. He once served in the Education Department and at the Chinese Culture University as a professor. He was known for his magnificent landscape paintings. In July 1980, Zhang Gunian held a solo exhibition at the Taipei Museum of History, which was attended by Zhang Daqian, Xu Wenbo and Soong Mei-ling. This lot is accompanied with a signed and stamped certificate from Zhang’s son, Zhang Zhengmin.
ZHANG DAQIAN (1899-1983)
Central Cross-lsland Highway / Calligraphy
Details
ZHANG DAQIAN (1899-1983)
Central Cross-lsland Highway / Calligraphy
A pair of hanging scrolls, ink and colour on paper/ink on paper
Each scroll measures 135 x 69.3 cm. (53 1/8 x 27 ¼ in.)
Central Cross-lsland Highway inscribed and signed, with four seals of the artist
Dated autumn, wushen year (1968)
Dedicated to Gunian
Calligraphy inscribed and signed, with three seals of the artist
Dated twenty-second day, seventh month, wushen year (1968)
Dedicated to Gunian
2
Central Cross-lsland Highway / Calligraphy
A pair of hanging scrolls, ink and colour on paper/ink on paper
Each scroll measures 135 x 69.3 cm. (53 1/8 x 27 ¼ in.)
Central Cross-lsland Highway inscribed and signed, with four seals of the artist
Dated autumn, wushen year (1968)
Dedicated to Gunian
Calligraphy inscribed and signed, with three seals of the artist
Dated twenty-second day, seventh month, wushen year (1968)
Dedicated to Gunian
2
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