Artwork Description

Title: Before Baby Picture 2
Artist: Shaoli Chen
Date: 2015
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 31.5 x 23.6 in (80 x 60 cm)

Artwork Identification:
This richly detailed oil painting by Shaoli Chen, Before Baby Picture 2, presents a striking juxtaposition between classical Chinese court painting motifs and contemporary figuration. At the heart of the composition lies a sensuous, modern nude woman seated on silk, accompanied by a vigilant cat, while a group of traditional Chinese children—rendered in the style of Ming or Qing dynasty decorative paintings—engages in playful rituals in the background. The work is a sophisticated orchestration of spatial layering, historical references, and stylistic contrast.

Artistic Style and Influences:
Shaoli Chen's practice is characterized by his ability to harmonize East and West, tradition and modernity. In this piece, he draws on the iconography of classical Chinese genre scenes—especially “hundred children” themes—while introducing Western realist figuration and European compositional balance. The combination of fantastical narrative and intimate portraiture underlines Chen’s command of both academic oil painting and Chinese artistic heritage.

Historical Context:
Shaoli Chen, born in 1950 in Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province, has been a major figure in Chinese oil painting since the late 20th century. A graduate of Nanjing University of the Arts, where he also serves as a professor and master tutor, Chen’s oeuvre is part of the post-Cultural Revolution resurgence of individualism and aesthetic complexity in Chinese contemporary art. His work reflects a post-socialist re-engagement with personal subjectivity and historical memory.

Provenance:
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

Condition and Conservation:
The painting is in very good condition, with vibrant pigment retention and no signs of damage or restoration. The elaborate silver-gilt frame is well preserved and structurally sound.

Artistic Significance:
Before Baby Picture 2 is a quintessential example of Shaoli Chen’s mature style—boldly weaving eroticism, innocence, and cross-cultural symbolism. This work stands out not only for its visual intricacy and technical virtuosity but also for its conceptual depth, making it a highly collectible piece for connoisseurs of Chinese contemporary oil painting.