Artwork Description

Title: Summer
Artist: Sun Yan
Date: Undated
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 35.4 x 35.4 in. (90 x 90 cm)

1. Artwork Identification
This striking oil painting by Sun Yan, Title:d Summer, presents a solitary figure—likely female—seen from behind, standing before a tree with a bold red backdrop. Dominated by a high-contrast palette of vermilion, turquoise, and earthy greens, the composition evokes the heat and solitude of summer through a masterful balance of abstraction and figuration. The central figure is rendered with a minimalist sensitivity, holding a red bag and wearing a sunhat that harmonizes with the surrounding fiery sky.

2. Artistic Style and Influences
Sun Yan’s work in Summer reflects a fusion of post-impressionist brushwork and contemporary color field sensibilities. The treatment of space—particularly the vibrant, nearly monochrome background—suggests affinities with Fauvism and Expressionism, where color is liberated from realism to convey emotion. The compositional stillness and painterly treatment align with modern poetic realism, recalling the emotional tone of artists like Milton Avery or the atmospheric colorism of Nicolas de Staël.

3. Historical Context
While the painting is undated, its aesthetic approach places it within the broader trajectory of 21st-century Chinese contemporary art, wherein personal memory and symbolic scenery often serve as vehicles for broader introspection. In post-2000s Chinese painting, there is a recurring fascination with the interplay between solitude, nature, and dreamlike landscapes. Summer captures this trend by distilling a seasonal moment into a surreal psychological space, merging inner experience with external environment.

4. Provenance
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

5. Condition and Conservation
The painting is in very good condition. The canvas remains taut and the paint surface is stable, with no visible abrasions, cracks, or evidence of restoration. The artist’s expressive brushwork and textured surface are intact, requiring no conservation at present.

6. Artistic Significance
Summer exemplifies Sun Yan’s lyrical approach to contemporary figuration, marked by emotive palettes and ambiguous narratives. The work’s compositional restraint and chromatic boldness invite prolonged contemplation, positioning it as a compelling addition to collections interested in poetic minimalism and evocative modern Chinese painting. Through its simplicity and intensity, Summer speaks quietly but with enduring resonance.