Artwork Description

Title: Portrait
Artist: Yu Jun
Date: n.d.
Medium: Ink and watercolor on paper
Dimensions: 24.8 x 14.6 in (63 x 37 cm)

1. Artwork Identification
This refined ink and watercolor portrait by Yu Jun features a seated young woman rendered with expressive delicacy. Her gaze is direct yet contemplative, framed by flowing hair adorned with a netted fascinator, suggesting vintage glamour. The subject’s posture, the gentle tilt of her head, and the detailed rendering of her hands reflect the artist’s sensitivity to human emotion and form.

2. Artistic Style and Influences
Yu Jun’s work embodies a seamless fusion of classical Chinese ink technique with a distinctly modern sensibility. Employing fine contour lines and soft washes of muted color, the artist evokes both realism and dreamlike allure. The sitter's poise and fashionable attire hint at influences from European portraiture and fashion photography, adapted through the aesthetic vocabulary of gongbi painting.

3. Historical Context
Yu Jun belongs to a generation of contemporary Chinese artists who reimagined traditional methods within the scope of modern life. His portrayals of women—elegant, strong, and introspective—stand as testaments to evolving cultural perspectives in post-reform China. This work, marked by its quiet sophistication, contributes to the broader narrative of individualism and femininity in modern ink painting.

4. Provenance
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

5. Condition and Conservation
The artwork is in very good condition. The paper remains crisp with no signs of discoloration or visible damage, and the frame is clean and intact, ideal for immediate display.

6. Artistic Significance
A master of balancing precision with expression, Yu Jun achieves emotional depth through subtle detail and tonal restraint. This portrait exemplifies his commitment to elevating traditional materials to meet contemporary thematic and aesthetic standards. It is an elegant and evocative work that will appeal to collectors of both contemporary and classical Asian art.