Artwork Description

Title:Tender

Artist:
Xin Dongwang

Date:
2000

Medium:
Oil painting

Dimensions:
24 × 31.5 in (61 × 80 cm)

1. Artwork Identification:
Tender is a finely composed oil portrait by Xin Dongwang, measuring 61 × 80 centimeters and presented in an elegant gilt frame. The painting depicts a seated woman, composed and serene, resting comfortably in a richly upholstered armchair. The sitter wears a deep purple jacket accented with vibrant cobalt blue trim, set against a dark brown skirt. Her relaxed posture—one arm draped along the armrest and the other resting gently on her lap—conveys both quiet confidence and contemplative grace. Behind her, crocheted lace and floral cushions subtly enhance the textural complexity of the setting. The artist’s mastery of figuration and color harmonies is immediately apparent in the balance between the subject’s delicate facial expression and the lush decorative environment.

2. Artistic Style and Influences:
This portrait reflects Xin Dongwang’s signature realist style, which blends traditional academic training with a nuanced, humanistic portrayal of everyday subjects. His work stands at the intersection of Chinese Socialist Realism and Western portraiture, showing affinities with Lucian Freud’s psychological depth and the compositional calm of 19th-century European salon portraiture. Unlike overtly political realist works of earlier decades, Tender reveals a personal, almost intimate sensitivity—underscored by painterly detailing and tonal richness. The contrast between the sitter’s vivid garment and the earth-toned background creates a quiet luminosity that recalls interior scenes by Johannes Vermeer or Vilhelm Hammershøi.

3. Historical Context:
Painted within the broader movement of late 20th to early 21st-century Chinese realism, Tender marks a shift away from ideological grand narrative toward individual expression. Xin Dongwang, known for elevating common people in art, represents a generation of painters redefining portraiture in a post-Mao cultural climate. This work aligns with an era in which Chinese artists increasingly emphasized psychological presence and domestic subject matter over collectivist themes. It stands as both a personal and cultural meditation—on poise, memory, and dignity.

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

5. Condition and Conservation:
Tender is in excellent condition. The oil surface is stable and displays no signs of cracking, overpainting, or pigment loss. The canvas is well-stretched, and the original frame remains structurally sound with only minor wear appropriate to age. No conservation treatment is currently recommended.

6. Artistic Significance:
This work exemplifies Xin Dongwang’s quiet mastery of figurative oil painting and his deep empathy for the human condition. Tender captures more than just a likeness—it reveals a psychological interiority that resonates with viewers across cultures. The painting stands as a testament to the enduring power of realist portraiture in contemporary Chinese art, offering collectors an emotionally resonant and technically refined example from one of the country’s foremost realist practitioners.