Artwork Description

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

Artwork Identification:
In Before Peacock Diagram, Shaoli Chen presents a refined and serene composition, depicting a nude female figure seated against a backdrop of dense foliage and two elegantly poised peacocks. The subject’s gaze meets the viewer directly, creating a quiet but potent presence. A blue-and-white ceramic pitcher and a single fruit lie in the foreground, enriching the still-life narrative with cultural symbolism and aesthetic harmony.

Artistic Style and Influences:
This work draws on the stylistic duality central to Shaoli Chen’s oeuvre—melding Western classical figuration with Chinese traditional motifs. The peacocks, ornamental and regal, echo the symbolic richness of Chinese painting traditions, while the softly modeled female nude and naturalistic rendering reflect Chen’s training in European oil techniques. The artist creates a lyrical visual experience through this balance of East and West, ancient and contemporary.

Historical Context:
Shaoli Chen, born in Xuzhou City, Jiangsu Province in 1950, is a distinguished professor and master tutor at Nanjing University of the Arts. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in oil painting in 1976 and later obtained a master's degree in Arts in 1989. A member of the China Artists Association and the executive director of the Jiangsu Oil Painting Society, Chen is regarded as a key figure in contemporary Chinese academic painting. His work represents an important dialogue between classical aesthetics and evolving cultural identity in 21st-century China.

Provenance:
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

Condition and Conservation:
The artwork is in very good condition, with the oil on canvas surface preserved and the original frame intact. No visible signs of wear or damage are present.

Artistic Significance:
Before Peacock Diagram is a compelling example of Shaoli Chen’s ability to layer figurative delicacy with traditional symbolism. The composition’s measured elegance and thematic complexity reflect the artist’s lifelong dedication to cross-cultural engagement and pedagogical excellence. This piece is not only a testament to his artistic mastery but also to his enduring influence in the landscape of Chinese contemporary oil painting.