Artwork Description

Title: A Bay of Blue Water to Keep Good News

Artist: Quanzong Zhang

Date: Undated

Medium: Chinese painting, ink and color on paper

Dimensions: 53.5 x 27.6 in (136 x 70 cm)

1. Artwork Identification
Quanzong Zhang’s A Bay of Blue Water to Keep Good News is a serene and detailed Chinese landscape rendered in ink and color on paper. Measuring 136 by 70 centimeters, the composition captures a harmonious natural scene: towering mountains in layered perspective, a calm bay with boats adrift, and intricately rendered trees and foliage throughout. The work’s Title: suggests auspicious symbolism, intertwining natural tranquility with themes of fortune and harmony.

2. Artistic Style and Influences
This painting is firmly rooted in the shan shui (mountain-water) tradition, with stylistic echoes of the Song dynasty’s monumental landscapes and the Ming-Qing literati’s lyrical brushwork. The painter’s use of blue and green tones hints at the historic qinglü (blue-and-green) palette, while the composition’s quiet grandeur and measured rhythm reflect a deep engagement with classical aesthetics. Zhang’s layering of ink washes and fine detailing demonstrates technical refinement and poetic restraint.

3. Historical Context
The subject matter and composition of A Bay of Blue Water to Keep Good News align with long-standing Chinese traditions that use landscape not merely as a subject but as a vehicle for philosophical thought. Water—often symbolic of communication, emotion, and flow—combined with boats, is a recurring motif in classical art and literature, frequently representing the journey of life or the arrival of good tidings. The peaceful setting may also reflect the literati ideal of retreat and contemplation during times of personal or political uncertainty.

4. Provenance and Authenticity
Please contact the gallery directly for full provenance details and certificates of authenticity. All documentation will be provided upon request to qualified collectors and institutions.

5. Condition and Conservation
The painting is in excellent condition. The pigments are vibrant and stable, with no signs of foxing, abrasion, or restoration. The paper support remains taut and undistorted. Standard archival framing and low-light conditions are recommended for optimal long-term preservation.

6. Artistic Significance
A Bay of Blue Water to Keep Good News exemplifies Quanzong Zhang’s skill in harmonizing classical Chinese painting techniques with poetic expression. The work’s refined atmosphere and symbolic richness make it a compelling acquisition for collectors of contemporary Chinese ink painting and admirers of the literati tradition. It stands as both a visual meditation and a timeless celebration of landscape as a bearer of peace and good fortune.