Artwork Description

Title: Donk's First Snow
Artist: Xiaoyong Ma
Date: 2013
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions:60 × 100 cm

1. Artwork Identification
Donk's First Snow by Xiaoyong Ma is an evocative oil painting portraying a serene winter landscape. A meandering river divides the scene, its dark waters contrasting with the snow-covered foreground and fields tinged with golden hues. In the distance, snow-capped mountains rise under a pale winter sky, suggesting tranquility and the enduring beauty of nature.

2. Artistic Style and Influences
Rendered in a realistic yet atmospheric manner, the painting reflects the artist’s mastery in contemporary landscape painting with a sensitivity reminiscent of Impressionist tonal studies. The interplay between warm and cool tones demonstrates an exploration of light and texture, capturing the fleeting essence of seasonal transformation.

3. Historical Context
Painted in 2013, this work reflects the artist’s engagement with themes of nostalgia and natural purity during a period when many Chinese contemporary painters revisited rural and pastoral motifs. The depiction of pristine snow and untamed terrain resonates with a longing for harmony amidst rapid urbanization.

4. Provenance and Authenticity
Please contact the gallery directly for provenance details and authentication certificates.

5. Condition and Conservation
The work is in excellent condition, with vibrant colors and stable paint layers. The surface shows no evidence of craquelure, discoloration, or restoration. Canvas remains taut on its stretcher.

6. Artistic Significance
Donk's First Snow stands as a compelling testament to Xiaoyong Ma’s ability to evoke emotional resonance through landscape imagery. Its balanced composition and nuanced palette situate it as a desirable acquisition for collectors drawn to works combining lyrical naturalism with cultural introspection.