Artwork Description

Title: Flower Depths
Artist: Ye Lan
Date: n.d.
Medium: Ink and color on paper
Dimensions: 26.8 x 53.5 in (68 x 136 cm)

1. Artwork Identification
Flower Depths by Ye Lan is a vivid, large-scale ink and color painting on paper, depicting two elegant white egrets nestled amid an exuberant jungle of blooming flowers and verdant leaves. Rendered with bold brushwork and heightened color contrasts, the composition pulses with life, texture, and rhythmic energy. The piece is signed and bears artist seals, underscoring its authenticity and traditional lineage.

2. Artistic Style and Influences
Ye Lan's work draws from the expressive da xieyi (大写意) tradition, a freehand style that emphasizes spiritual resonance over physical precision. He rejects the formulaic motifs of classical Chinese bird-and-flower painting in favor of deeply personal, emotive abstraction. Saturated greens, fiery reds, and stippled golden accents reflect a modernist approach, while the brush technique retains roots in classical ink training. The visual language recalls the dynamic works of artists like Qi Baishi and Pan Tianshou, reimagined through a contemporary, almost psychedelic lens.

3. Historical Context
Born in 1955 in Guanyun, Jiangsu, Ye Lan was trained at the Nanjing Art School, where he was immersed in traditional Chinese ink aesthetics. His career reflects the post-Cultural Revolution movement toward personal expression in Chinese art. In Flower Depths, Ye Lan bridges history and individuality, producing a uniquely contemporary interpretation of the flower-and-bird genre—one that speaks to a revitalized cultural identity and artistic freedom in late 20th-century China.

4. Provenance
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

5. Condition and Conservation
The artwork is in very good condition. The paper remains stable and free from discoloration or damage. The pigment application is vivid and intact, with no signs of fading or moisture disturbance. There is no evidence of restoration, and the brushwork and textures are pristine.

6. Artistic Significance
Ye Lan's Flower Depths is a striking testament to the evolution of Chinese ink painting, where traditional forms are revitalized through contemporary vision. This dynamic piece stands out for its scale, vibrancy, and bold reinterpretation of classical subject matter. It holds both academic and market appeal, ideal for collectors interested in progressive Chinese art that honors and challenges tradition in equal measure.