- 1030
GUAN ZILAN | Fishing by the Lake
Estimate
1,600,000 - 2,400,000 HKD
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Description
- Fishing by the Lake
- signed and dated 1965 in Chinese
- oil on canvas
- 35 by 45 cm; 13 ¾ by 17 ¾ in.
Provenance
Important Private Asian Collection
Literature
CANS Art News Editing Team, ed., Guan Zilan 1903 - 1985, Chinese Art Books Co., Taipei, 2012, plate 15, p. 68-69
Condition
The work is overall in good and its original condition. Upon very close inspection, there are a few extremely minor signs of hairline crack in the lower left and lower right, all of which appear to be in stable condition. Examination under UV light reveals no sign of restoration.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
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."
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
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."
Catalogue Note
"The beauty of Guan Zilan is dazzling, bright like the sunshine, and clear like lake water. It is translucent, pure and natural. Just like her paintings, she is a person of gentle temperament, elegant like the orchid." Chen Danqing
Back to Basics
After the 1940s, Guan’s emotional state when she painted was different from before, influenced by external circumstances as well as learning from life experiences. The carefree style with bold emotional immediacy was replaced by a deeper grounded and more vigorous approach, seen in Fishing by the Lake (Lot 1030) completed in 1965. The present lot depicts a young couple resting by a lake in the forest. The couple was positioned in the middle of the canvas and surrounded by tall, towering trees in all directions. In the dancing light and shadow, Guan’s solid grasp of oil painting techniques is on full display. The painting depicts a bright and delightful Springtime scenery, filled with the colours and lights of the season, offering the viewer a sanctuary for the heart, all worldly troubles dissolving in it instantly. Although she was born into prosperity, Guan was not spared from the trials and tribulations of life, especially through decades of social turmoil. A mother by that time, she also found new purpose in her life and work, while fame and fortune fell away as mere transient concerns. Her wish for peace in life was expressed in her painting. Unlike her earlier portraits, the figures depicted in the present lot were deliberately small, occupying only a tiny proportion of the overall composition, an exemplification of the philosophical state when oneself was fully immersed into the external environment, and a reflection of the artist’s own transcended state of mind. After the Cultural Revolution, Guan ceased painting almost entirely, making works from this period even more valuable and precious.
Back to Basics
After the 1940s, Guan’s emotional state when she painted was different from before, influenced by external circumstances as well as learning from life experiences. The carefree style with bold emotional immediacy was replaced by a deeper grounded and more vigorous approach, seen in Fishing by the Lake (Lot 1030) completed in 1965. The present lot depicts a young couple resting by a lake in the forest. The couple was positioned in the middle of the canvas and surrounded by tall, towering trees in all directions. In the dancing light and shadow, Guan’s solid grasp of oil painting techniques is on full display. The painting depicts a bright and delightful Springtime scenery, filled with the colours and lights of the season, offering the viewer a sanctuary for the heart, all worldly troubles dissolving in it instantly. Although she was born into prosperity, Guan was not spared from the trials and tribulations of life, especially through decades of social turmoil. A mother by that time, she also found new purpose in her life and work, while fame and fortune fell away as mere transient concerns. Her wish for peace in life was expressed in her painting. Unlike her earlier portraits, the figures depicted in the present lot were deliberately small, occupying only a tiny proportion of the overall composition, an exemplification of the philosophical state when oneself was fully immersed into the external environment, and a reflection of the artist’s own transcended state of mind. After the Cultural Revolution, Guan ceased painting almost entirely, making works from this period even more valuable and precious.