Zhang Daqian: Contemplating An Autumn Landscape

ZHANG DAQIAN (1899-1983), *Contemplating upon an Autumn Landscape,* Inscribed and signed, with three seals of the artist, Dated ninth month, dingwei year (1967), Scroll, mounted on board and framed, ink and colour on paper, 84 x 129 cm. (33 1/8 x 50 3/4 in.), Image source: Christie’s

“The painting was particularly cherished by Zhang, as he once stated that it was a representation of water running into one of the man-made lakes on his ranch in Brazil… Contemplating Upon an Autumn Landscape was painted in 1967 at the height of the development of Zhang Daqian’s semi-automatic splashed ink and colour technique. This creative zenith was brought about partly by his ailing eye sight, which imposed limitations on the fine gongbi painting that he practiced ceaselessly under the inspiration of masterpieces of the Song, Ming and Qing dynasties before the 1950s. The success of Zhang’s pomo style should not be read as Zhang’s inability to adhere to his previous style and flair, but rather his wisdom to revive a Tang dynasty artistic tradition and renew it with modern enthusiasm.
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