Artwork Description

Title: Body
Artist: Guo Wei
Date: 2004
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 15.7 x 11.8 in (40 x 30 cm)

Artwork Identification:
This 2004 painting by Guo Wei, Title:d Body, portrays a reclining nude figure with confident ease. The subject is shown against a pale sky-blue background, draped across a patterned surface that mimics zebra stripes in gestural black and grey brushstrokes. Rendered in a stylized, almost pastel palette, the figure is both monumental and tender, evoking themes of bodily presence and self-possession.

Artistic Style and Influences:
Guo Wei’s approach here aligns with his established visual language of simplified realism and psychological introspection. The relaxed pose and abstracted surroundings place emphasis on the figure’s presence rather than its identity. The patterned fabric beneath the subject introduces a bold graphic counterpoint to the soft handling of flesh, creating a balance between figuration and abstraction. His use of gentle contour and pale tonal modeling reflects influences from both Chinese literati ink traditions and Western modernist figuration.

Historical Context:
Completed in 2004, this work represents Guo Wei’s continuing exploration of identity and embodiment during a time of rising consumer culture and social transformation in China. In contrast to the aggressive economic drive of early 2000s urban China, this figure’s nonchalant pose offers a quiet, embodied resistance. It suggests a moment of comfort in one’s skin, set against a society increasingly preoccupied with surface appearance and conformity.

Provenance:
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

Condition and Conservation:
The artwork is in very good condition. There are no visible areas of paint loss, structural tension, or discoloration. The canvas is stable and well-stretched, and the painted surface retains its original luster.

Artistic Significance:
This work is a compelling example of Guo Wei’s nuanced treatment of the human form. Unlike his more emotionally charged portraits of adolescence, Body (2004) exudes a serene confidence. Its minimalist execution allows the subject’s form and context to speak volumes. It is an intimate study of body language and the emotional resonance of stillness, capturing the complexity of personal space in a shifting cultural landscape.