Artwork Description

Title:Jailbreak No. 42
Artist: Yuanbo Chen
Date: 2014
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 39.37 × 31.5 in (100 × 80 cm)

1. Artwork Identification
Jailbreak No. 42 is a compelling oil painting by Yuanbo Chen, measuring 100 by 80 centimeters. The composition depicts two male figures walking through a stark, elongated corridor—evocative of a tunnel, industrial passageway, or a prison hallway. The perspective draws the viewer into a narrowing vanishing point, emphasizing confinement and the sense of escape implied by the Title:. The muted, cool-toned palette and interplay of light and shadow heighten the painting’s atmospheric tension.

2. Artistic Style and Influences
Chen’s work demonstrates a cinematic realism infused with psychological depth. His use of strong linear perspective, dramatic contrast, and spatial compression recalls the visual strategies of Edward Hopper’s urban isolation, while thematically intersecting with the existential concerns of modernist narrative painting. The subdued tonality and architectural austerity enhance the work’s meditative and unsettling qualities, aligning it with contemporary figurative realism.

3. Historical Context
Created in 2014, Jailbreak No. 42 reflects the artist’s engagement with narratives of restriction and liberation, themes resonant in the context of accelerated social and cultural transitions in contemporary China. During this period, artists frequently explored metaphors of confinement as allegories for structural and personal constraints in an era of transformation. Chen’s interpretation transforms a literal corridor into a psychological landscape of tension and ambiguity.

4. Provenance and Authenticity
For detailed provenance information and certificate of authenticity, please contact the gallery directly.

5. Condition and Conservation
The painting is in excellent condition. The surface shows no signs of paint loss, abrasions, or prior restoration. The textural nuances observed are consistent with the artist’s original technique.

6. Artistic Significance
Jailbreak No. 42 is a profound meditation on space, freedom, and human resilience, positioning Yuanbo Chen among the noteworthy voices in contemporary narrative painting. Its cinematic scope and conceptual depth make it a highly desirable acquisition for collectors seeking works at the intersection of realism and existential inquiry.