Artwork Description

Title:Playing Chess

Artist
Lv Jiang

Date
n.d.

Medium:
Ink and watercolor on paper

Dimensions
18.1 × 26.8 in (46 × 68 cm)

1. Artwork Identification
Playing Chess is a vibrant and imaginative composition by Lv Jiang, depicting two stylized female figures surrounded by lush foliage, with a traditional chessboard prominently positioned between them. The contrast between their expressions and body language suggests a contemplative yet whimsical moment, caught in a dreamlike realm of color and fantasy.

2. Artistic Style and Influences
Lv Jiang is renowned for blending contemporary figurative motifs with traditional Chinese painting techniques. In this work, the artist employs a vivid palette and fluid linework, capturing a surreal garden scene. The playful stylization of figures, botanical elements, and objects recalls the aesthetic of modern Chinese pop surrealism, with subtle influences from both Eastern ink traditions and Western modernist abstraction.

3. Historical Context
Emerging from the post-1970s generation of Chinese artists, Lv Jiang's work often reflects the cultural dialogues between tradition and modernity. This painting merges leisure imagery rooted in classical Chinese literati themes, such as chess playing and nature, with a postmodern reimagining through the lens of gender, identity, and fantasy.

4. Provenance
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

5. Condition and Conservation
The artwork is in very good condition. The paper remains clean and structurally sound, with no visible foxing, tears, or discoloration. Pigments are bright and stable, retaining the integrity of the artist's original palette.

6. Artistic Significance
As a professor and master’s supervisor at Nanjing Art College and a member of both the Jiangsu Artists and Writers Associations, Lv Jiang has established himself as a leading voice in contemporary Chinese art. Playing Chess demonstrates his distinctive narrative style, imaginative world-building, and a masterful fusion of humor, introspection, and technical skill. This piece offers collectors a highly representative and captivating work from his oeuvre.