Artwork Description

Title: 1974 · Yangtze River
Artist: Wu Guanzhong (吳冠中, 1919–2010)
Date: Original work realized in 1974, printed in 2006
Medium: Print
Dimensions: 8 prints, each 15.7 x 35.4 in (40 x 90 cm)

Artwork Identification: 
This boxed set contains eight panoramic prints by Wu Guanzhong, showcasing various scenes along the Yangtze River. The works are mounted individually and stored in a specially crafted wooden case. Each panel represents a different landscape or cityscape viewed from the river, emphasizing Wu’s poetic and expressive vision of China’s geography.

Artistic Style and Influences:
Wu Guanzhong blended Western modernist influences—particularly Impressionism and Fauvism—with traditional Chinese ink painting methods. The Yangtze River series demonstrates his use of color, brush rhythm, and compositional flow to evoke not only the natural grandeur of the river but also the modernization of China's landscape.

Historical Context:
Originally created in 1974 during a significant period in Chinese history, these works reflect both a reverence for the timeless beauty of the Yangtze and the political shift towards national pride in China's natural heritage. Wu's decision to revisit this theme in a 2006 print edition shows the lasting impact of the series.

Provenance:
Includes the artist’s preface in Chinese with a printed signature, housed in a bespoke wooden box.
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

Condition and Conservation:
The paper of all prints shows mild foxing and yellowing due to age and storage conditions, especially around the borders. However, the images remain vibrant, and the structural integrity is uncompromised. The wooden case shows light wear consistent with handling.

Artistic Significance:
This set exemplifies Wu Guanzhong’s contribution to modern Chinese art, combining traditional Chinese themes with contemporary formalism. It holds historical, cultural, and aesthetic value, particularly for collectors of 20th-century Chinese landscapes and followers of the modern ink painting movement.