Artwork Description

Title: Before the Golden Pheasant Scene
Artist: Shaoli Chen
Date: 2014
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 31.5 x 19.7 in (80 x 50 cm)

Artwork Identification:
This refined composition, Before the Golden Pheasant Scene, captures a young nude figure seated demurely on a traditional Chinese stool, her expression serene and contemplative. A vibrantly plumed golden pheasant perches nearby, while blossoming peonies and rock forms create an intricate, symbolic background. A brightly colored ball lies at the subject’s feet, introducing a playful undertone to the otherwise meditative setting.

Artistic Style and Influences:
Shaoli Chen’s technique is defined by his seamless integration of classical Chinese painting motifs with contemporary figurative oil painting. The floral patterning and stylized foliage recall the elegance of Qing dynasty court painting, while the intimate realism of the nude figure reflects Western academic influence. The result is a refined aesthetic that balances delicacy and directness, tradition and modernity.

Historical Context:
Created in 2014, this work exemplifies Chen’s ongoing interest in the juxtaposition of traditional cultural emblems and contemporary identity. His work from this period explores themes of femininity, innocence, and the interconnection between human and nature through symbolic wildlife—here, the golden pheasant, a longstanding emblem of beauty and nobility in Chinese art.

Provenance:
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

Condition and Conservation:
The painting is in very good condition, with its original canvas and painted surface well preserved. It is presented in a wooden frame with linen matting that harmonizes with the palette of the composition.

Artistic Significance:
Shaoli Chen’s Before the Golden Pheasant Scene stands as a compelling example of his mastery in combining allegorical imagery with sensuous figuration. The work invites contemplation on beauty, tradition, and femininity in a global context, and is emblematic of Chen’s role in redefining contemporary Chinese academic painting for the 21st century.