Artwork Description

Title: On the Red Maple River, Autumn Fan Yuan

Artist: Quanzong Zhang

Date: Undated

Medium: Chinese painting, ink and color on paper

Dimensions: 53.5 x 27.6 in (136 x 70 cm)

1. Artwork Identification
In On the Red Maple River, Autumn Fan Yuan, Quanzong Zhang presents a tranquil and immersive vision of the natural world, rendered in ink and color on paper. Measuring 136 by 70 centimeters, the composition captures a mountainous landscape set beside a quiet river or lake, with a striking tree adorned with red foliage dominating the foreground. The rich autumnal palette and harmonious layout reflect the painter’s sensitivity to seasonal rhythm and poetic mood.

2. Artistic Style and Influences
This work is emblematic of the shan shui (mountain-water) tradition, with roots in the Chinese literati painting school. Zhang combines the expressive ink brush techniques of classical painting with a vivid seasonal focus—most notably, the bold red blossoms suggestive of maples or late-autumn flora. The balance of solid rock formations and fluid waterways echoes the Song dynasty ideal of contrasting yin and yang elements within nature, while the delicate treatment of foliage adds a lyrical flourish reminiscent of Qing dynasty masters.

3. Historical Context
Autumn landscapes in Chinese art often embody reflection, nostalgia, and the inevitable cycles of nature. The imagery of red maple leaves beside a river has deep poetic associations in Tang and Song dynasty literature, where falling leaves and flowing water were metaphors for time, memory, and emotional transition. In this painting, Zhang continues that tradition, evoking the atmosphere of a crisp, serene autumn day—imbued with both clarity and quietude.

4. Provenance and Authenticity
Please contact the gallery directly for detailed provenance records and certificates of authenticity. All documentation will be provided to qualified collectors upon request.

5. Condition and Conservation
The painting is in excellent condition. The paper support is stable and unblemished, and the pigments retain their vibrancy. There is no evidence of restoration, fading, or foxing. Proper conservation framing and low-light display conditions are recommended to ensure continued preservation.

6. Artistic Significance
On the Red Maple River, Autumn Fan Yuan stands as a poignant testament to Quanzong Zhang’s ability to reinterpret classical landscape motifs through a seasonal lens. His nuanced use of color and compositional balance captures the fleeting beauty of autumn while honoring the meditative spirit of traditional Chinese painting. This work holds strong appeal for collectors of contemporary ink painting rooted in literati aesthetics, and contributes meaningfully to the evolving discourse of Chinese landscape art.