Signature
Signed LEE YIH HONG in Chinese
With five seals of the artist
PROVENANCE:
Acquired directly from the artist
+ OVERVIEW
The title of this work was extracted from Wang Xizhi's Lantingji Xu , about Wang and 40 scholars' gathering by the river composing poems. Such gathering was welcomed by scholars for centuries, thus became a common subject in Chinese literati paintings throughout history, especially Wu School of Art in the Ming dynasty. This work was commissioned by current collector in 1987, and is regarded as the largest painting made in 1980s (142 x 373cm). It is still one of the biggest paintings by Lee Yih Hong ever seen in the art market after 30 years. Similar work was published by the Taiwan Artist Magazine No. 32 Lee Yih Hong, made in 1986 (144 x 370cm).
These two works were made in two consecutive years. Comparing the two paintings, the painting offered in this sale is more mature in terms of brushwork and composition. Servants on the left place wine cups onto the water, to allow cups float down the stream. On the right sat Wang Xizhi by the desk, writing Lantingji Xu . Scholars compose poems while drinking wine. In this later painting, the artist pulled the scene closer to enrich the frame. Running stream, serene and dense woods was expressed through meticulous details and layers of coloured ink. The whole painting depict the thriving spring. Using the composition of the painting and meticulous depiction of figures, this painting has its grandeur from a distance and its amusing details up close, expressing the scholarly pleasure from Lantingji Xu .