聶歐

款識
山鄉農人自樂圖。聶鷗製於壬申立冬時並題。

鈐印
「聶」、「鷗」。

亞洲私人收藏

Overall in good condition.
"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."

Nie Ou is admired for her cheerful depictions of celebratory scenes and rural life in China.  During the Cultural Revolution, Nie Ou was sent to work in the farms of Yanbei, in Shanxi province. However, in contrast to many of her contemporaries, Nie Ou reveled in her time in the countryside, calling it the “most fruitful years of my youth.” The scenery and simplicity of rural life have thus been a primary source of the artist’s inspiration. Village Farmers (Lot 2862) and A Soft Breeze Blows (Lot 2863) illustrate Nie’s ability to combine a wide range of brushstrokes and ink tones to recreate the happy and relaxed village life she enjoyed so much. In A Soft Breeze Blows, Nie Ou paired the work with a particularly apt poem originally written by Han Yu (768 – 824), who was distinguished from his more elitist contemporaries for using everyday language and imagery in his poetry. The Tang dynasty poem describes a sentimental journey to a remote Buddhist temple and admiration for life’s simple pleasures.