Artwork Description

Title: Girl
Artist: Xing Jianjian
Date: n.d.
Medium: Oil on canvas board
Dimensions: 19.7 x 23.6 in (50 x 60 cm)

Artwork Identification
In Girl, Xing Jianjian presents a dreamlike portrait of a woman rendered in expressive, swirling brushwork and a soft, atmospheric palette. The composition centers on the model’s direct, introspective gaze, captured with ethereal lighting and diffused contouring. The figure’s tilted pose and flowing lines blend seamlessly into the surrounding abstract background, creating a painterly blur between subject and emotion.

Artistic Style and Influences
Xing Jianjian’s work blends expressionism, symbolism, and classical realism. Here, his signature stylistic fusion is on full display: the emotive texture and color layering evoke the intensity of psychological portraiture, while the composition remains grounded in figural representation. The loose brushwork and rich, moody hues call to mind the aesthetics of late Romantic and post-Impressionist painters, filtered through a contemporary Chinese lens.

Historical Context
Graduating from Nanjing University of the Arts in 1986, Xing Jianjian emerged during a critical moment in Chinese art history—when artists sought to redefine traditional painting in light of global modernism. His work embodies this intersection, where academic rigor meets experimental freedom. Girl exemplifies his approach of transforming traditional oil techniques into emotive visual poetry, capturing the post-reform generation’s internal and aesthetic shifts.

Provenance
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

Condition and Conservation
The artwork is in very good condition, with no visible signs of damage or surface deterioration. The colors retain their original vibrancy, and the canvas board is structurally sound.

Artistic Significance
Xing Jianjian is recognized as one of China’s most lyrical and symbolist painters of his generation. His works have been featured in major exhibitions across Asia, Europe, and North America and collected by prestigious institutions and private collectors alike. Girl stands as a strong example of his emotive power and refined technical skill, offering a glimpse into the contemplative soul of modern Chinese figuration.