Artwork Description

Title: Back four (Figures)
Artist: Xiaoluo Wang
Date: n.d.
Medium: Ink and color on paper
Dimensions: 70.9 x 37.8 in. (180 x 96 cm)

1. Artwork Identification
Back four (Figures) by Xiaoluo Wang is a large-format ink and color composition on paper, presenting three female figures entwined in a dynamic yet delicately composed arrangement. Executed with fluid brushwork and a muted tonal palette, the piece explores the nuances of contemporary femininity and collective presence. The work is defined by its translucent washes, soft lines, and layered rendering of garments and gestures, exuding both elegance and spontaneity.

2. Artistic Style and Influences
Wang’s approach evokes the aesthetic sensibility of modern Chinese ink painting, fusing traditional brush techniques with a fashion-forward, contemporary figurative idiom. The figures are stylized in a way that hints at the influence of both Chinese opera iconography and modern editorial illustration, creating a visual tension between heritage and modernity. The loose brush handling and pale washes recall the influence of 20th-century ink reformists such as Chen Cheng-po and Lin Fengmian, while the compositional restraint reflects a distinctly contemporary minimalism.

3. Historical Context
Produced in a period marked by increasing cross-cultural dialogue in Chinese contemporary art, Wang’s work resonates with the broader movement of new ink painting that gained prominence in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Artists in this milieu sought to renew traditional aesthetics through modern narratives, techniques, and modes of representation—particularly those addressing identity, gender, and the evolving role of tradition in a globalized society.

4. Provenance
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

5. Condition and Conservation
The work is in very good condition, with the pigments retaining their original luminosity. The paper remains structurally sound and free from creases, foxing, or discoloration. No visible conservation work has been noted, and the piece is suitable for immediate framing and display.

6. Artistic Significance
Back four (Figures) represents a compelling example of Xiaoluo Wang’s contribution to the evolving discourse of figurative ink painting in China. The artist’s sensitivity to both formal elegance and psychological nuance positions this work within the growing market for post-traditional Chinese ink art. Its scale and subject matter, coupled with its deft technical execution, offer both collectors and institutions a distinctive and intellectually resonant acquisition.