Artwork Description

Title: Astringent Two
Artist: Xinlin Jiang
Date: 2012
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 35.4 x 47.4 in (90 x 120.5 cm)

1. Artwork Identification
Astringent Two is a deeply expressive oil on canvas portrait by Xinlin Jiang, painted in 2012 and measuring 90 by 120.5 cm. The painting depicts a young boy in a red winter jacket caught in a candid moment, smiling with one hand playfully covering his face. Behind him stretches a wide, golden-toned autumn landscape, softly blurred to place full emotional weight on the boy’s expression and gesture. The composition captures not just physical likeness, but personality and lived experience.

2. Artistic Style and Influences
Executed in Jiang’s characteristic realist manner, Astringent Two combines precise figuration with atmospheric naturalism. The artist’s warm palette and textured brushwork align with the ethos of Chinese contemporary realism, while the boy’s gesture introduces a sense of movement and spontaneity more commonly found in photographic portraiture. This fusion of painterly control and informal subject matter situates Jiang among artists bridging traditional technique with documentary storytelling.

3. Historical Context
Created in 2012, this painting reflects a period in Chinese art when social realism took on a renewed significance. Artists like Jiang engaged deeply with the rural subject—not as idealized scenery but as an authentic human space. The emotional intimacy in Astringent Two aligns with this broader cultural current, depicting children not as symbols but as individuals rooted in place and season. The autumnal background and the child’s clothing suggest the resilience and vitality of village life.

4. Provenance
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

5. Condition and Conservation
The painting is in very good condition. The surface presents no signs of paint loss, damage, or discoloration. The canvas remains taut and well-stretched, and the paint layer is secure with excellent tonal preservation. No conservation treatment is needed.

6. Artistic Significance
Astringent Two is a poignant example of Xinlin Jiang’s ability to humanize his subjects through nuanced portraiture. The boy’s playful gesture and warm expression convey a depth of character and immediacy rare in formal portraiture. As part of Jiang’s celebrated exploration of rural identity and youth, this work stands out for its emotional accessibility and painterly integrity, making it an important addition to both private and institutional collections.