Lot  648 Ravenel Autumn Auction 2022 Taipei

Ravenel Autumn Auction 2022 Taipei

Plum Blossoms

PU Hsin-yu (Taiwanese, 1896 - 1963)

Ink and colour on paper, scroll

92.5 x 45.3 cm

Estimate

TWD 240,000-380,000

HKD 60,000-94,000

USD 7,600-12,000

CNY 54,000-85,000

Sold Price

TWD 552,000

HKD 140,458

USD 18,045

CNY 126,897


Signature

Signed Hsin-yu in Chinese
With two seals of the artist and one seal of the collector

PROVENANCE Christie's Hong Kong, 26 April, 1998, Lot 152 Acquired from the above by the present owner



+ OVERVIEW

Plum blossom is a favourite subject matter of scholarly paintings. As a well-acclaimed outstanding and all-round scholar of the times, Pu Hsin-yu painted using techniques of calligraphy and poetic compositions in his landscape paintings. This work is composed in a simplistic structure, completed with dry brush and swift strokes. As it extends from the top right corner. Boneless technique was used to depict the crooked main branches. Side branches were completed with zhouzhuan strokes which are round and sturdy. They are meticulously depicted with fluidity and style. The composition is slightly imbalanced to enhance movement and visual impact. Double or multiple blossoms were depicted with meticulous outlines of petals, stigmas and anthers, elegantly finished with white powdered ink. Such juxtaposition of rough crooked branches, elegant delicate flowers, multifarious shapes of petals and intertwined movement adds liveliness to the paintings. This work creates a joyful atmosphere with a careful play of strokes, high respect towards classical styles yet a genuine display of the form of plum blossoms. As the old plum blossom blooms from its crooked branches, the strokes are associated with styles of Yuan, both echoing a poem of plum blossom appreciation and highlighting the noble character of the artist. Such subject matter reflects Pu's internal emotions as he dedicated most of his time in painting after arriving in Taiwan. Hence this work could be regarded as one of his classical compositions of flower paintings.
Related Info

Refined Brushwork: Ink Paintings and Works of Art

Ravenel Autumn Auction 2022 Taipei

Saturday, December 3, 2022, 1:00pm