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Scholar Under Willow
Details
ZHANG DAQIAN (1899-1983)
Scholar Under Willow
Scroll, mounted and framed, ink and colour on paper
90.5 x 45 cm. (35 5/8 x 17 ¾ in.)
Inscribed and signed, with two seals of the artist
Dated fifteenth day, third month, renchen year (1952)
Further inscribed and signed on the mounting by the artist, with one seal
Zhang Daqian often lamented that while it is easy to paint fair ladies, it is difficult portray a great man. Zhang saw depicting a gentleman scholar as most challenging - the figure had to be without bitterness, without coarseness, without effeminacy, and instead be poised and carefree, like the great historical figures of bygone times.
Having left Mainland China in 1949, Zhang Daqian travelled the world in search of a place to settle down, from Hong Kong, India, to South America where immigration was encouraged. In February 1952, he moved with his family to Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he was to lead a quiet and stable life for a period of time. It was there that Zhang also painted Separation, an exquisite portrait of his wife Xu Wenbo dated March 1952, which achieved the price of HK$34,260,000 at Christie’s Hong Kong on 29 May 2012. Since the 1940s, the artist finessed and perfected his depiction of the scholar – this present painting sees a scholar depicted with an almond shaped face and a full figure, his hair dressed in a bun and a flowing beard – the ideal portrait, or perhaps a self-portrait of a truly great man.
Scholar Under Willow
Scroll, mounted and framed, ink and colour on paper
90.5 x 45 cm. (35 5/8 x 17 ¾ in.)
Inscribed and signed, with two seals of the artist
Dated fifteenth day, third month, renchen year (1952)
Further inscribed and signed on the mounting by the artist, with one seal
Zhang Daqian often lamented that while it is easy to paint fair ladies, it is difficult portray a great man. Zhang saw depicting a gentleman scholar as most challenging - the figure had to be without bitterness, without coarseness, without effeminacy, and instead be poised and carefree, like the great historical figures of bygone times.
Having left Mainland China in 1949, Zhang Daqian travelled the world in search of a place to settle down, from Hong Kong, India, to South America where immigration was encouraged. In February 1952, he moved with his family to Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he was to lead a quiet and stable life for a period of time. It was there that Zhang also painted Separation, an exquisite portrait of his wife Xu Wenbo dated March 1952, which achieved the price of HK$34,260,000 at Christie’s Hong Kong on 29 May 2012. Since the 1940s, the artist finessed and perfected his depiction of the scholar – this present painting sees a scholar depicted with an almond shaped face and a full figure, his hair dressed in a bun and a flowing beard – the ideal portrait, or perhaps a self-portrait of a truly great man.
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