.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
Chen Yanning is one of the leading figures among what can be seen as China's "third generation" realistic oil painters, alongside such peers as Ai Xuan, Chen Yifei and Luo Zhongli. In painterly technique and subject matter, Chen Yanning's work displays similarities to that of Chen Yifei, yet Chen Yanning's portraits convey a deeper study of human psyche. His impeccable realistic technique transcribes the subject onto the canvas with photographic fidelity, presenting a serenity and vivacity that often transcends his subject matter.
In Long Time Ago (Lot 2128) from in 1987, Chen captures the tranquillity and richness of a mysterious forest landscape. The main focus of this piece is the vast verdant pathway that directs the viewer's eye onto the stone bridge in the background. A lone horse is sheltered by in the extreme left of the composition, leaving two-thirds of the foreground an uninterrupted verdant pathway. Chen generous spatial arrangement allows the viewer the space to explore this quiet vista. As such, the spatial composition lends the painting a spiritual affinity with those of the Chinese literati who sought a deeper understanding of their subjects by reflecting their inner essence. As a result, Chen's work serves as a unique interpretation of Eastern concepts with Western techniques.
Early Spring (Lot 2226) exemplifies Chen's photorealist style, one that imbues native cultural motifs with an exalted and vibrant quality. The girl portrayed here is dressed in tribal attire, seated on the ground with a background of palm tree leaves scattered around her. Chen cleverly uses the shadow of the tree leaves to enhance the depth of the painting. The shadows of light grey hue, combined with the earthy tone of the ground, gently surround the child, and striking exoticism of the tribal attire further frames the girl's face, enhancing her presence and highlighting the inner world of the child. Her downcast eyes drift away from us, adding another layer of poetic sentiment in the tranquil prairie scene. Collectively, these early works illuminate Chen Yanning's treatment of the psychological nuances that is astonishingly sensitive, poetic, and rich.
In Long Time Ago (Lot 2128) from in 1987, Chen captures the tranquillity and richness of a mysterious forest landscape. The main focus of this piece is the vast verdant pathway that directs the viewer's eye onto the stone bridge in the background. A lone horse is sheltered by in the extreme left of the composition, leaving two-thirds of the foreground an uninterrupted verdant pathway. Chen generous spatial arrangement allows the viewer the space to explore this quiet vista. As such, the spatial composition lends the painting a spiritual affinity with those of the Chinese literati who sought a deeper understanding of their subjects by reflecting their inner essence. As a result, Chen's work serves as a unique interpretation of Eastern concepts with Western techniques.
Early Spring (Lot 2226) exemplifies Chen's photorealist style, one that imbues native cultural motifs with an exalted and vibrant quality. The girl portrayed here is dressed in tribal attire, seated on the ground with a background of palm tree leaves scattered around her. Chen cleverly uses the shadow of the tree leaves to enhance the depth of the painting. The shadows of light grey hue, combined with the earthy tone of the ground, gently surround the child, and striking exoticism of the tribal attire further frames the girl's face, enhancing her presence and highlighting the inner world of the child. Her downcast eyes drift away from us, adding another layer of poetic sentiment in the tranquil prairie scene. Collectively, these early works illuminate Chen Yanning's treatment of the psychological nuances that is astonishingly sensitive, poetic, and rich.