Artwork Description

Title: Scenery 1
Artist: Zhang Wenhao
Date: 2013
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 27.6 x 39.4 in (70 x 100 cm)

1. Artwork Identification
Scenery 1 by Zhang Wenhao is a serene landscape that captures a quiet moment in nature with soft, atmospheric brushwork. Depicting a tree-lined pathway during what appears to be late autumn or early winter, the composition invites viewers into a meditative engagement with space, rhythm, and seasonal transition. The use of delicate, muted colors and sparsely leafed trees adds a sense of stillness and contemplative distance to the scene.

2. Artistic Style and Influences
Zhang Wenhao’s style is rooted in the traditions of plein air and impressionistic landscape painting. His treatment of light and shadow, along with his use of broad yet sensitive brushstrokes, reflects a strong understanding of naturalistic composition. While the work is grounded in observation, Wenhao’s approach also carries an introspective tone, reminiscent of Chinese literati painting in its evocation of mood rather than detail.

3. Historical Context
Created in 2013, Scenery 1 reflects a mature period in Wenhao’s career, following his academic training and leadership at the Nanjing University of the Arts. In a time when many contemporary Chinese artists pivot toward conceptualism or political commentary, Wenhao’s insistence on the contemplative power of the landscape painting continues the legacy of both Western and Chinese classical traditions, emphasizing the personal and poetic over the overtly symbolic.

4. Provenance
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

5. Condition and Conservation
The painting is in very good condition. The surface is stable, with no visible signs of cracking, discoloration, or wear. The canvas is taut and professionally stretched, suitable for immediate display or inclusion in a curated collection.

6. Artistic Significance
Zhang Wenhao’s Scenery 1 is a refined example of contemporary Chinese landscape painting rooted in academic precision and poetic sensibility. As both a professor and practicing artist, Wenhao’s work bridges pedagogical tradition and expressive freedom, offering a calm counterpoint to the rapid changes of the modern world. This piece holds particular appeal for collectors who value technical mastery, atmospheric nuance, and the enduring relevance of nature in visual art.