Artwork Description

Title: Scenery
Artist: Su Tianci
Date: 1992
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 66 × 40 cm / 25.98 × 15.75 in

1. Artwork Identification
Scenery is an elegantly understated oil painting by Su Tianci, measuring 66 × 40 cm. The composition offers a serene portrayal of a natural landscape, painted with lyrical softness and tonal subtlety. The elongated horizontal format suggests a panoramic view, evoking the gentle quietude of the countryside with a refined sense of balance and harmony.

2. Artistic Style and Influences
A seminal figure in 20th-century Chinese oil painting, Su Tianci (1922–2006) was known for fusing traditional Chinese aesthetics with Western oil techniques. His brushwork in Scenery reflects an impressionistic sensibility—soft transitions of light and form—while retaining the meditative stillness seen in classical Chinese ink painting. The result is a hybrid visual language that is both rooted in heritage and globally conversant.

3. Historical Context
Su Tianci’s work emerged during a transformative era in Chinese art history, as artists navigated the tensions between Soviet-influenced realism and indigenous traditions. Scenery likely belongs to his mature period, during which he embraced a more personal and contemplative style, often focusing on themes of nature, nostalgia, and introspection. The work reflects the artist's broader mission to reconcile East and West through painterly dialogue.

4. Provenance and Authenticity
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

5. Condition and Conservation
The painting is reported to be in excellent condition, with stable surface quality and no visible cracking, fading, or restoration. The canvas remains taut within its frame, and the oil medium maintains its original luminosity. Proper care in lighting and climate control is advised for continued preservation.

Summary:
In Scenery, Su Tianci offers a masterful synthesis of East and West, employing oil paint to explore timeless themes of nature and reflection. Its subtle beauty, technical restraint, and cultural resonance make it a compelling addition to collections of Chinese modernism and landscape art.