Artwork Description

Title:Eye to Eye Dog Series – Heart Gate 3

Artist: Feiqun Li

Date: 2016

Medium: Oil on canvas

Dimensions: 90 × 45 cm (35.43 × 17.72 in)

1. Artwork Identification
This work, Title:d Eye to Eye Dog Series – Heart Gate 3 by Feiqun Li, is an oil painting measuring 90 × 45 cm. The composition features a bulldog peeking through a partially opened door, emphasizing a playful yet intimate moment. The restrained palette and realistic detail in the depiction of the dog contrast with the simplicity of the surrounding space, highlighting the central subject.

2. Artistic Style and Influences
Li’s approach blends realism with narrative intimacy, creating works that resonate with contemporary figurative traditions. The artist captures subtle emotional undertones through detailed animal portraiture, reminiscent of genre painting traditions while infusing them with modern sensibility. The anthropomorphic interpretation of the bulldog’s gaze may also evoke influences from Western realist portraiture.

3. Historical Context
Produced in 2016, this work reflects a broader trend in Chinese contemporary art toward individualized storytelling and intimate subject matter. During this period, many Chinese artists began integrating global influences with local cultural motifs, moving away from overt political themes toward personal narratives, often through depictions of domestic life or symbolic imagery.

4. Provenance and Authenticity
Provenance and authentication details are available upon request. Please contact the gallery for documentation and certification.

5. Condition and Conservation
The painting is reported in good overall condition, with no visible areas of paint loss, surface abrasion, or discoloration. The canvas remains taut on its stretcher, and there are no signs of prior restoration. A routine surface dusting is recommended for long-term preservation.

6. Artistic Significance
This work is part of Feiqun Li’s Eye to Eye Dog Series, a body of work that explores human-animal relationships and themes of loyalty and companionship. The series has garnered attention for its empathetic representation of animals and the subtle emotional narratives embedded in ordinary moments. Heart Gate 3 exemplifies Li’s ability to merge technical precision with evocative storytelling.