David Wu Ject-Key

signed in pinyin and Chinese

Private American Collection

The work is overall in good condition. There is a tiny paint loss on the left elbow of the subject and very tiny chip on the front of his hat. There some minor paint losses on the lower left part of the canvas. There is no evidence of restoration under UV light.
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NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

David Wu Ject-Key graduated from Art Students’ League in New York and became the first Chinese tutor at the academy. He constantly received awards and held exhibitions throughout his life. Even to this day the American Watercolor Society and the Salmagundi Club annually deliver the “David Wu” and the “Elise Ject-Key” memorial awards to talented artists, showing Wu’s legacy to a society which obviously still views him as an influential figure in the art scene.

Although having lived in America for a vast majority of his life, David Wu Ject-Key still has a deep connection to his homeland. Not only has he been the President of Chung Shan Association, he also integrates Eastern and Western elements into his work and dedicated himself to the development of Chinese modern art. In General Officer, the artist employs his skillful techniques in making a powerful portrait. The man is wearing his most formal military uniform, displaying his authority and dignity as a respected general officer. Instead of staring at the viewer, a perspective normally painted by the artist, the officer is looking into the distance as if he were deep in thought. In this work, Wu successfully creates a portrait of hero that is infused with epic and dramatic elements.