Artwork Description

Title: Lotus
Artist: Shi Lan
Date: n.d.
Medium: Ink and color on paper
Dimensions: 65.9 x 34 in (167.5 x 86.5 cm)

1. Artwork Identification
In this lush vertical composition Title:d Lotus, Shi Lan presents a dazzling floral tableau dominated by blooming lotuses in vivid shades of red, white, and purple. The flowers rise boldly amid large, sculptural green leaves, set against a layered aquatic background teeming with buds, stems, and seed pods, evoking the dense vitality of a lotus pond at peak bloom.

2. Artistic Style and Influences
Shi Lan draws from classical Chinese botanical painting traditions while incorporating a contemporary richness in color modulation and atmospheric layering. The refined brushwork, elegant transitions of tone, and rhythmic distribution of blossoms and foliage reveal the artist’s deep command of both traditional ink techniques and modern expressive flair.

3. Historical Context
In Chinese art, the lotus is a revered symbol of purity, spiritual resilience, and transcendence, rising unstained from muddy waters. This painting aligns with a long lineage of literati and court paintings celebrating the lotus as a motif of moral and aesthetic ideal. Shi Lan’s treatment breathes fresh vitality into this ancient symbol, bridging cultural heritage with a modern sensibility.

4. Provenance
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

5. Condition and Conservation
The artwork is in very good condition. Colors remain vibrant, and the paper surface shows no visible signs of deterioration.

6. Artistic Significance
Lotus by Shi Lan is a testament to the enduring resonance of floral subjects in Chinese painting and the artist’s masterful ability to reinterpret traditional forms. This work not only highlights the symbolic depth of its subject matter but also demonstrates Shi Lan’s nuanced handling of color, form, and space, making it an exceptional piece for collectors of contemporary Chinese ink and color painting.