Artwork Description

Title: Figure
Artist: Sang Jianguo
Date: n.d.
Medium: Ink and color on paper
Dimensions: 53.9 x 27.2 in (137 x 69 cm)

1. Artwork Identification
This ink and color painting on paper by Sang Jianguo, Title:d Figure, captures two contemporary young women in stylish urban winter attire, standing against a delicate backdrop of blossoming branches. Measuring 137 x 69 cm, the composition is defined by its sharp fashion detailing—fur-lined boots, leggings, layered tops, accessories, and a prominent “NY” cap—rendered with precision and vibrant color. The juxtaposition of traditional Chinese brush techniques with thoroughly modern subjects gives the work an immediately engaging, cross-cultural resonance.

2. Artistic Style and Influences
Sang Jianguo continues his exploration of gongbi (meticulous brush) figure painting with a twist—infusing classical craftsmanship with present-day visual culture. His stylistic fusion of detailed contour lines, subtle shading, and ink-controlled form is balanced by an eye for contemporary fashion trends and character design. This meeting of dynastic technique and millennial content allows the viewer to experience the continuity of Chinese artistic legacy while witnessing the evolution of its visual identity.

3. Historical Context
Sang Jianguo, born in 1957, belongs to the generation of Chinese artists who emerged in the reform era, witnessing radical social, cultural, and aesthetic shifts. Figure represents his ongoing engagement with cultural hybridity and youth expression within urban China. By incorporating fashion codes, social gestures, and contemporary femininity into a classical visual framework, the artist contributes to the broader discourse of tradition versus modernity in 21st-century Chinese art.

4. Provenance
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

5. Condition and Conservation
The painting is in very good condition. The paper exhibits faint folding marks, most likely from previous storage, though these do not impact the image surface or structural integrity. The pigments remain rich and stable. Professional flattening and archival framing are recommended for long-term preservation and optimal display.

6. Artistic Significance
Figure is emblematic of Sang Jianguo’s innovative vision—bridging the historic and the contemporary through elegant, narrative-driven portraiture. His works document the evolving aesthetic language of youth culture while reaffirming the lasting relevance of traditional Chinese techniques. This piece would appeal to collectors interested in figurative ink art that speaks to generational identity, fashion, and the dynamic transformation of Chinese society.