Zhu Qizhan (China, 1892-1996) Chrysanthemums. Dated 1979

Hanging scroll depicting a mountain enlivened by colors and chrysanthemums. Registration and artist’s seal.

Returning to Shanghai he founded the Yiyuan Painting Institute, Where he taught and became a leading figure of the “modern” painting movement in China.

After suffering a career setback brought about by the Chinese Cultural Revolution, the artist became one of China’s most popular contemporary artists (at home and abroad) by the time he was 75 years old. He received several awards and lived long enough to attend the opening of the Zhu Qizhan Museum of Art in Shanghai, which was founded in his honor in 1995

The artist is acknowledged to be the one who managed to blend the traditional Chinese brushstroke with the colors of the Western tradition.

 “For many years I have gone out of my way to achieve three aims. They are independence, strength, and succinctness. Independence means a painter should have his own features instead of being dependent on or blindly worshipping those of other schools. Strength is viewed in the bold and vigorous strokes of a painter but it needs to come from his mental effort or inner world. As for succinctness, it is embodied in being terse and concise. These three principles are the criterion for creation I have closely followed.” (Wender, Karen and Leon. “Zhu Qizhan – A Noble Spirit”. Arts of Asia, May–June 2002. Arts of Asia Publications Ltd.pp. 34–35)

Provenance: Purchased by the current owner in Harold Wong’s gallery, Hong Kong.