1939 ZHANG YOUYI CHRYSANTHEMUMS AND ORCHID PAINTING

拍品描述

Artist: Zhang Youyi (1900-1988) Chrysanthemums and OrchidThe present work depicts blossoming chrysanthemums accompanied by elegant orchid leaves rendered in a restrained palette of ink and pale color. Executed with delicate brushwork and subtle tonal variations.The chrysanthemums emerge softly from the pictorial space, their pale petals delicately modeled against darker foliage and angular branches. Long, calligraphic orchid leaves sweep across the lower foreground, providing movement and balance to the vertical composition. The restrained use of color and the generous areas of empty space create an atmosphere of quiet elegance and poetic contemplation.Both chrysanthemums and orchids occupy important positions within Chinese artistic tradition. The chrysanthemum symbolizes purity, integrity, and the reclusive virtues associated with the scholar-gentleman, while the orchid represents refinement, nobility, and cultivated character. Their combination within a single composition reflects longstanding literati ideals and the harmonious union of moral and aesthetic virtues.The work demonstrates an economy of brushwork and a sensitivity to ink modulation that recall the artist?s continued engagement with classical flower painting traditions. The inscription and seals complement the composition, reinforcing its scholarly and contemplative character. Ink and color on paper, Yisebiao mount, Vertical Axis Painting (Sight): 78cm H x 31cm W Dated: MinGuo Twenty-Eight years (1939) Signed/Seal(s): Signed, with three seals PROVENANCE: Acquired from a prominent collector, representing an important private collections. The collections presented and offered up to auctions from Lot 25 through Lot 136; and additional related documents and or manuscripts from Lot 137 to Lot 228. Wei Tao-Ming (Wei Daoming), (October 28, 1899 - May 18, 1978) was a prominent Chinese diplomat, statesman, and senior official of the Republic of China. Born in Jiangxi Province, he studied law in the United States and became active in the Nationalist government under Chiang Kai-shek. During the Second World War, Wei served as the Republic of China's Ambassador to the United States from 1942 to 1946, playing an important role in strengthening Sino-American relations during the Allied war effort. He later held several key government positions, including Governor of Taiwan Province (1947-1949), Ambassador to Japan, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China from 1966 to 1971. Wei remained an influential figure in Chinese diplomacy throughout the mid-twentieth century and was closely involved in the Republic of China's international affairs during a period of major political transition in East Asia. ARTIST BIO: Zhang Youyi (1900-1988) was a twentieth-century Chinese painter known for her refined figure paintings and depictions of elegant ladies executed in the classical gongbi tradition. Working during a period of significant transformation in Chinese art, she drew inspiration from Tang and Song dynasty models, emphasizing graceful linework, delicate coloration, and carefully observed costume details. Her paintings frequently portray court ladies, Buddhist subjects, and historical figures, combining traditional techniques with a modern sensibility. Zhang?s works were appreciated for their decorative elegance and scholarly character, and they remain sought after by collectors of modern Chinese figure painting.

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