Artwork Description

Title: Small River Under the Sun
Artist: Kang Wanhua
Date: n.d.
Medium: Oil
Dimensions: 3.9 x 5.0 in (10 x 12.6 cm)

1. Artwork Identification:
Small River Under the Sun is an intimate, jewel-toned landscape rendered in expressive, saturated hues. A solitary tree is framed by a luminous riverbank under shifting skies of violet and cobalt, all conveyed through heavy impasto and rich oil textures. Though compact in size, the composition radiates vivid emotional depth and painterly vigor.

2. Artistic Style and Influences:
Created in secret during Kang Wanhua’s imprisonment, this piece draws from Expressionism and touches of Surrealism. Unlike his contemporaries who leaned toward realism or impressionism, Kang embraced emotive distortion and color symbolism. His choice of palette—vibrant yet melancholic—hints at the internal world of the artist and his longing for freedom.

3. Historical Context:
Painted clandestinely during Kang's incarceration in the 1970s Cultural Revolution, this work stands as a rare visual document of resistance and creativity under political duress. Imprisoned for voicing dissent against Chairman Mao, Kang was forced to produce art in near-complete secrecy, often using scraps of paper and salvaged materials. These works are now considered historical artifacts that embody the resilience of the human spirit under ideological oppression.

4. Provenance:
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

5. Condition and Conservation:
Artwork is in very good condition. The surface bears light texture variation consistent with its original materials and techniques. The work is securely presented in a protective frame.

6. Artistic Significance:
Kang Wanhua’s miniature paintings are now recognized as rare and poignant examples of artistic defiance from one of China’s darkest political periods. Small River Under the Sun is not only a visual meditation on nature, but also a quiet act of endurance—imbued with historical, emotional, and artistic gravity. Its presence in any collection contributes a powerful voice to the narrative of contemporary Chinese art.