Artwork Description

Title: Cry from Mouth to Mouth
Artist: Guoyong Zhang
Date: 2016
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 30 x 40 cm (11.8 x 15.7 in)

1. Artwork Identification
In Cry from Mouth to Mouth, Guoyong Zhang captures a strikingly expressive moment between two sparrows perched on a delicate wire. The left bird appears composed and reserved, while the right bird, beak agape, seems to be mid-call—introducing a compelling narrative of communication, emotion, or confrontation between the pair. The simplicity of the background and minimalist setting amplifies the focus on gesture and interaction.

2. Artistic Style and Influences
Executed with soft precision and painterly sensitivity, the work reflects Zhang’s unique blend of photorealistic detail and poetic minimalism. The washed teal backdrop and the birds’ finely observed textures recall both East Asian scroll painting traditions and Western naturalistic portraiture, merging emotional expressiveness with technical discipline.

3. Historical Context
Painted in 2016, this piece aligns with a broader contemporary interest in depicting small-scale, emotionally resonant vignettes from the natural world. Sparrows, long revered in Chinese culture for their symbolism of vitality and perseverance, are given new life here as expressive avatars for human-like dialogues and moods.

4. Provenance
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

5. Condition and Conservation
The painting is in very good condition. The canvas remains stable with no signs of damage or restoration. Surface inspection reveals no discoloration, cracking, or loss of pigment.

6. Artistic Significance
Cry from Mouth to Mouth demonstrates Zhang’s remarkable ability to imbue birds with anthropomorphic character and relational tension. The painting is a testament to the power of subtle gesture and empty space in storytelling. It is an evocative piece that will appeal to collectors drawn to emotive figuration, avian imagery, and refined contemporary realism.