Artwork Description

Title: Lotus Incense, Crane Shadow
Artist: Xiaobo Lu
Date: Undated
Medium: Chinese painting
Dimensions: 26.77 x 41.73 in (68 x 106 cm)

1. Artwork Identification
Lotus Incense, Crane Shadow by Xiaobo Lu is a lyrical Chinese ink painting that intertwines natural symbolism and serene atmosphere. Executed on a vertical scroll, the composition likely features an elegant crane — a time-honored emblem of longevity and transcendence — depicted near blooming lotus blossoms. The subtle play between shadow and form, as suggested by the Title:, evokes a meditative stillness, underscoring the harmony between spirit and nature.

2. Artistic Style and Influences
Lu’s approach combines elements of xieyi (freehand brushwork) with refined compositional structure. The crane, rendered with flowing lines and poised elegance, recalls Song dynasty bird-and-flower traditions while adopting a contemporary lightness in ink tone and balance. The lotus, long celebrated in Chinese painting for its purity arising from the mud, deepens the painting’s spiritual undercurrent. This work channels influences from literati aesthetics, particularly those that celebrate simplicity, clarity, and inner cultivation.

3. Historical Context
In Chinese visual culture, cranes and lotuses are potent symbols. The crane is associated with immortality and scholarly ideals, while the lotus represents purity, spiritual enlightenment, and Buddhist philosophy. Together, they create a deeply coded visual language that reflects values of transcendence, virtue, and cultivated solitude. Such combinations were frequently employed by scholar-artists from the Ming and Qing periods, and continue to resonate in contemporary Chinese ink art.

4. Provenance and Authenticity
Please contact the gallery directly for provenance information and a certificate of authenticity.

5. Condition and Conservation
This work is reported to be in good overall condition. There are no signs of pigment loss, paper buckling, or staining. It is professionally mounted and well-suited for exhibition. A detailed condition report can be provided upon request.

6. Artistic Significance
Lotus Incense, Crane Shadow is an elegant expression of Xiaobo Lu’s ability to reinvigorate classical motifs through refined brushwork and balanced composition. It represents a continuation of the bird-and-flower tradition with a poetic sensibility that appeals to collectors and scholars alike. The work contributes meaningfully to the dialogue between traditional Chinese symbolism and modern visual interpretation.