Artwork Description

Title: Letters
Artist: Shaoli Chen
Date: n.d.
Medium: Ink and watercolor on paper
Dimensions: 30.3 x 28.3 in (77 x 72 cm)

Artwork Identification
Letters presents two fashionably dressed young women posed before an elegantly abstracted garden scene. One figure in a bright red dress clutches a folded white envelope, hinting at the painting’s Title:, while the other stands confidently in a fur coat and over-the-knee boots. The balanced composition and carefully chosen accessories suggest a narrative of communication, connection, and self-expression.

Artistic Style and Influences
Shaoli Chen seamlessly fuses traditional Chinese ink painting with modern imagery. His use of delicate linework and subtle color washes captures intricate detail—such as braided hair, patterned socks, and the subtle textures of fabric—while maintaining the fluid spontaneity of classical Chinese brushwork. The fashionable styling and confident stances root the figures firmly in contemporary urban life.

Historical Context
As a prominent professor and figure in China’s contemporary art world, Shaoli Chen has consistently explored the interplay of tradition and modernity. Letters exemplifies his interest in youth culture, feminine identity, and interpersonal communication in a fast-changing society, using traditional techniques to document and elevate the present moment.

Provenance
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

Condition and Conservation
The artwork is in very good condition, with no visible blemishes, color fading, or structural concerns.

Artistic Significance
In Letters, Chen captures both style and subtle emotion. The envelope—perhaps a love letter, message, or memory—invites interpretation while the figures’ body language communicates quiet intimacy and independence. This piece is a strong example of Chen’s ability to convey personal and cultural narratives through a graceful, contemporary reinterpretation of Chinese painting traditions.