Artwork Description

Title: Red Paper
Artist: Guijun Li
Date: 2007
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 43.3 x 29.5 in. (110 x 75 cm)

1. Artwork Identification
Red Paper by Guijun Li depicts a nude female figure, poised with quiet elegance against a backdrop imbued with a red-toned paper aesthetic. Measuring 110 × 75 cm, the work showcases Li’s hallmark figurative realism—meticulous attention to flesh tones and compositional balance—while the subtle abstraction of the background lends an enchanting, almost intimate aura to the scene.

2. Artistic Style and Influences
Li Guijun, a graduate (1988) of the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing whose mentors included Jin Shangyi and Yang Feiyun, is celebrated for his refined, photorealist portrayals of young women. In Red Paper, he blends academic modeling—Rembrandt-inspired layering of warm and cool hues—with a compositional restraint reminiscent of classical portraiture. The red-paper backdrop, softly rendered, both references traditional Chinese coloration and foregrounds the modeled realism of the nude.

3. Historical Context
Produced during the 1990s–2000s, a period when Li’s artistic vocabulary matured into what critics call "New Classical Realism," Red Paper reflects the context of a rapidly globalizing China reconciling domestic intimacy with international aesthetic currents. The nude figure, uncommon in public Chinese art before the 1988 Nude Oil Exhibition, symbolizes a shift toward personal portrayal and liberated expression in post-reform educational settings.

4. Provenance and Authenticity
For information regarding the provenance and authenticity of this artwork, please contact the gallery directly. Authenticity certificates and provenance documentation are available upon request.

5. Condition and Conservation
The painting’s canvas appears stable and well-preserved, with Li’s hallmark smooth gradations and precise brushwork intact. No visible craquelure or overpainting is evident. A professional condition evaluation is recommended to certify canvas tension, varnish condition, and pigmentation stability, especially for display under focused lighting.

Summary
Red Paper is a quintessential expression of Li Guijun’s refined realism—melding classical technique with contemporary intimacy. The muted red backdrop highlights the serenity of the nude figure, reinforcing Li’s status as a leading voice of the Fourth Generation of Chinese realist painters. An assured acquisition for any collection devoted to modern Chinese portraiture, the work exemplifies Li’s mastery of light, structure, and subtle emotional presence.