Artwork Description

Title:Daiyu Burying Flowers

Artist
Li Wenpei

Date
n.d.

Medium:
Traditional Chinese Painting (Ink and Color on Paper)

Dimensions
27.2 x 17.7 in (69 x 45 cm)

1. Artwork Identification
Daiyu Burying Flowers is a lyrical ink and color painting by Chinese artist Li Wenpei, illustrating a poignant moment from Dream of the Red Chamber, one of China’s Four Great Classical Novels. The image depicts the character Lin Daiyu gently scattering flower petals into the earth, her fragile presence rendered in expressive brushstrokes and a delicate pastel palette. The emotional subtlety of the scene is enhanced by the fine calligraphy inscribed vertically on the right, connecting image and poetry in classic Chinese literati fashion.

2. Artistic Style and Influences
Wenpei’s brushwork evokes the traditional Chinese figure painting style but is infused with a modern sensitivity and spontaneity that reflects her cross-disciplinary practice. Influenced by both classical Chinese literature and contemporary illustration, Li Wenpei captures Daiyu with gestural elegance, soft washes of ink, and fluid linework. The minimal composition leaves much of the paper bare, enhancing the ethereal quality of the subject and aligning with the aesthetics of restraint and emotional nuance found in traditional Chinese literati painting.

3. Historical Context
The painting draws on the enduring legacy of Dream of the Red Chamber—an 18th-century novel by Cao Xueqin celebrated for its psychological depth and tragic romanticism. Lin Daiyu’s act of burying fallen flowers symbolizes her own sense of impermanence and emotional sensitivity. In reinterpreting this narrative visually, Li Wenpei joins generations of artists who have engaged with classical texts, yet her contemporary technique adds a fresh visual voice to this time-honored subject.

4. Provenance
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

5. Condition and Conservation
The work is in very good condition, with stable pigments and no visible damage to the paper. Professionally framed with a wide mat and clean wooden frame, it is well-preserved for display and long-term care.

6. Artistic Significance
Li Wenpei is an accomplished contemporary artist and journalist whose work bridges traditional Chinese motifs and modern narrative illustration. Daiyu Burying Flowers is emblematic of her ability to capture emotional depth through minimalism and expressive brushwork. This piece resonates not only as a visual tribute to literary heritage but also as a refined contemporary reinterpretation. A compelling acquisition for collectors of modern Chinese ink art with literary and cultural resonance.