Artwork Description

Title:Summer

Artist
Shaoli Chen

Date
n.d.

Medium:
Ink and watercolor on paper

Dimensions
29.9 × 28.3 in (76 × 72 cm)

1. Artwork Identification
In Summer, Shaoli Chen depicts two young women in casual, warm-weather attire standing amid a stylized natural backdrop. One wears jeans and a yellow tank top with a baseball cap, while the other is dressed in a flowy pink skirt and an off-the-shoulder blouse. Their relaxed poses and attentive expressions evoke a moment of quiet camaraderie, underscored by the artist’s distinctive, cartoonlike elegance and keen attention to contemporary fashion.

2. Artistic Style and Influences
The work reflects Chen’s characteristic blend of traditional Chinese ink painting techniques with modern subjects. His figures—elongated and stylized—convey mood through gesture and dress rather than realism. The foliage and background elements retain the brush-based vitality of classical Chinese landscapes, while the subjects root the piece in the present, drawing influence from both fashion illustration and caricature.

3. Historical Context
Shaoli Chen is known for bridging eras through his art. Summer exemplifies his interest in contemporary life and youth culture as filtered through the lens of classical technique. The contrast between modern clothing and naturalistic background elements reflects the coexistence of tradition and modernity in contemporary Chinese society, particularly among the younger generation.

4. Provenance
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

5. Condition and Conservation
The artwork is in very good condition. The pigments retain their vibrancy, and the paper is structurally sound, with no noticeable creases or discoloration. The piece has been well-preserved, with delicate detailing still sharp and intact.

6. Artistic Significance
Summer is a charming and culturally resonant example of Shaoli Chen’s unique visual language. It contributes to his broader series that gently observes and celebrates youth, individuality, and personal expression. The work invites both casual admiration and deeper reflection, positioning Chen among China’s most skillful and thoughtful interpreters of contemporary daily life through traditional media.