Artwork Description

Artist: Jian Guan
Title: Go Beachcombing 3
Date: 2008
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 200 x 168 cm
Condition Report: In good condition
Signature: Signed and dated in the lower left corner

Jian Guan’s Go Beachcombing 3 presents a towering, solitary figure depicted from behind, standing with a pitchfork in hand. The figure’s feet are firmly planted apart, forming a triangular stance that exudes stability and quiet strength. With bold, exaggerated anatomical features, the composition commands attention, its sheer scale enhancing the figure’s monumental presence. The painting’s restrained chromatic palette, dominated by deep blues and dark orange tones, heightens the contrast and dramatizes the textured brushwork. Against a minimalist backdrop, the figure’s imposing stature and stoic posture evoke resilience and an almost sculptural grandeur, immersing the viewer in the artist’s deeply humanistic portrayal of labor and perseverance.

About the Artist
Guan Jian (born 1955) is a Chinese painter from Kaiyuan, Liaoning Province, known for his expressive and monumental depictions of rural laborers. He graduated from the Oil Painting Department of Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts, where he now serves as a docent in the Art Education Department. A member of the China Artists' Association, Guan’s art is deeply rooted in his rural upbringing, focusing on themes of resilience and authenticity. His signature style features thick, expressive brushwork, earthy and grayish tones, and figures with exaggerated hands and feet—symbolizing strength and endurance. His major works have been exhibited in significant national and international exhibitions, including Beijing National Art Exhibition (1974), The 1st Youth Art Exhibition (1979), and National Art Exhibition of Beijing (1992). His work is widely recognized for its emotional depth and evocative storytelling, capturing the dignity and spirit of the working class.