Artwork Description

Shen Ji-kun
Figure, n.d.
ink and colour on paper
13 x 13 in. (33 x 33 cm)

This circular composition presents a serene figure in flowing red robes seated atop a water buffalo. The image is carefully contained within a tondo format, reinforcing a sense of balance and meditative closure. The restrained palette and precise linear articulation underscore the work’s formal clarity and symbolic intent.

The artist draws upon classical Chinese figural traditions, particularly Buddhist and Daoist iconography in which the ox represents the taming of the self. The composition recalls the visual structure of the Ten Ox-Herding Pictures, long associated with the stages of spiritual cultivation.

The work is situated within a continuous tradition of allegorical painting, in which figuration serves as a vehicle for philosophical reflection on discipline, enlightenment, and inner harmony.

The work is in very good condition, with clean paper and stable pigments. Provenance: documentation can be provided upon request.