Artwork Description

Title: Portrait 1
Artist: Xinlin Jiang
Date: 2015
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 23.6 x 19.7 in (60 x 50 cm)

1. Artwork Identification
Portrait 1 by Chinese artist Xinlin Jiang presents a vivid and psychologically rich depiction of a youthful figure shrouded in winding, plant-like strands. The painting’s electric blue palette dominates the composition, creating an ethereal effect as the figure emerges from an intense orange background. Rendered in oil on canvas, the work measures 60 x 50 cm and showcases Jiang’s unique fusion of figuration with dreamlike abstraction.

2. Artistic Style and Influences
This portrait exemplifies Jiang’s expressionist-surrealist vocabulary, marked by vivid color contrasts and symbolic layering. The veiled facial expression and unnatural hues evoke the haunting intimacy found in post-symbolist and contemporary Asian portraiture. One may draw parallels to artists such as Zhang Xiaogang in terms of psychological undertone, while the chromatic drama suggests resonance with the Neo-Expressionist movement.

3. Historical Context
Painted in 2015, this work belongs to a period when Jiang was actively exploring themes of identity, emotional entrapment, and spiritual liminality. The post-2000s Chinese art scene saw a shift toward personal mythologies and inward-looking narratives—a shift Jiang embraces through psychologically charged figuration. The organic threads surrounding the subject act as metaphors for inherited constraints or evolving identities in a rapidly modernizing society.

4. Provenance
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

5. Condition and Conservation
The painting is in very good condition. The surface presents no visible cracks, losses, or signs of previous restoration. The colors remain vibrant and well-preserved, with stable paint layers and a clean canvas ground. No conservation work is required.

6. Artistic Significance
Portrait 1 represents a powerful synthesis of contemporary Chinese portraiture with allegorical content, exemplifying Jiang’s introspective approach to the figure. Through its luminous color palette and enigmatic mood, the painting captures the tension between exterior form and internal emotion. As part of Jiang’s broader oeuvre focused on psychological states and bodily expression, this work stands out as a compelling and collectible piece for connoisseurs of modern Chinese painting.