David Wu Ject-Key

signed in pinyin and Chinese; Salmagundi Club, New York label affixed to the reverse

Private Asian Collection

This work is in good condition. The canvas has been relined. There is evidence of light wear at the bottom left corner. Under UV: there is evidence of scattered small spots of retouching, primarily near the edges of the work.
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As a first-generation Chinese American artist, David Wu Ject-key's artworks project a profound imprint of the era. Wu was born at the end of nineteenth century and emigrated to America in 1902. There he received formal training from the Royal Canadian Academy of Art, the Grand Central School of Art and the Art Students League. Compared to Li Tiefu Li Yun Gee , Wu's works manifest a transformation of oil painting from classicalism to modernism.  Realism served as the backbone of Wu's paintings and he enriched the canvas in an impressionistic manner. On one hand, his accurate depiction of the relationship between light and shadow as well as the human body proportion demonstrates a robust academia approach. On the other hand, his free and loose brushstrokes and chromatic use of colours aligns with the impressionistic style. In one of Wu's exhibition catalogues, Warren Bower, who was then the director of Department of Art in New York University, praised that "[Wu] respects the truth as he sees it through clear eyes, whose strength is reflected in the colours and forms that he uses characteristically in his paintings".

Wu specialises in portraiture and living within the massive ethnic melting pot, New York, he found himself with a plethora of models. He believes that portraits not only illustrate the figure's contour, but also more importantly express the character's spirit, personality and identity. Bullfighter is the quintessential example. A Bullfighter projects a vivid image and symbolises courage in Spanish culture. Moreover, the nature of bullfighting is rather paradoxical – the fighter battles to survive and yet it functions as an entertainment. Hence the sport provokes a strong aesthetic value and depth of reflection. Monet, pioneer of Impressionism has also created a brilliant Bullfighter piece during his early career. Since Wu is deeply influenced by Impressionism, it is not surprising for him to pay his respect for the subject matter.

This piece made clever usage of light and body language to establish the figure's image. The background is set outdoor and painted plein air. Light is shed from the left in which emphasizes the lavishness and layering of the costume. Furthermore, the light enhances the facial contour and creates a sense of loftiness. Despite the fight is around the corner, the Bullfighter remains to be poised - with his eyes gazing afar, his right hand resting on the fence and his left hand akimbo. The solid triangle formed from the positioning imposes a sense of grandeur to the figure; thus demonstrates Wu's acute observation and careful composition.