Artwork Description

Title: Portrait (Portrait with Lantern Procession)
Artist: Wang Liuqiu (1919–2011)
Date: Undated
Medium: Oil on paper
Dimensions: [Dimensions not provided; please specify in inches and cm]

Artwork Identification
This striking oil-on-paper portrait by Wang Liuqiu depicts a poised young woman with a short, blunt haircut and direct gaze, swathed in a delicate, light-patterned shawl. She is positioned against a lively background filled with figures engaged in what appears to be a traditional lantern procession. The artist’s expressive brushwork and radiant palette of purples, blues, and greens lend the scene a dreamlike and festive ambiance.

Artistic Style and Influences
Executed in a vivid post-impressionist and early modernist idiom, the work combines decorative flatness with a distinct sensitivity to light and textile texture. The interplay of color and pattern suggests influence from both Fauvism and Chinese folk painting traditions. Wang Liuqiu’s Western academic training and Chinese visual heritage are evident in his nuanced handling of the figure and composition.

Historical Context
Wang Liuqiu was active during a transformative period in 20th-century Chinese art, which saw the integration of Western painting techniques into traditional Chinese aesthetics. Trained at the Lu Xun Academy of Literature and Art and later a professor at several major Chinese academies, Wang became a pivotal figure in bridging early Chinese modernism with academic realism. This portrait likely reflects the period of artistic openness in China’s post-Mao reform era.

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

Condition and Conservation
Based on visual assessment of the digital image, the surface appears to be in stable condition with minor visible wear consistent with age. No significant cracking or paint loss is evident. A professional in-person evaluation is recommended to confirm conservation status.

Artistic Significance
This work is a prime example of Wang Liuqiu’s mature period, highlighting his facility in fusing cultural iconography with modern pictorial language. The portrait stands out for its contemplative elegance and rich cultural layering, and contributes meaningfully to the evolving narrative of modern Chinese figurative painting. It is a rare and evocative piece likely to resonate with collectors attuned to 20th-century East Asian art.

Xileng Yinshe20190707Spring auction Hangzhou