Artwork Description

Title: Summer
Artist: Shaoli Chen
Date: n.d.
Medium: Ink and watercolor on paper
Dimensions: 27.6 x 27.6 in (70 x 70 cm)

Artwork Identification
In Summer, Shaoli Chen captures a breezy, casual moment shared between two young women, set against a backdrop of expressive rock formations and stylized summer foliage. With their relaxed poses, minimal layers, and light, modern clothing, the figures radiate seasonal ease and contemporary cool.

Artistic Style and Influences
Combining traditional Chinese brushwork with everyday urban subjects, Chen masterfully uses ink and watercolor to convey mood, movement, and personal style. The textures of the natural background are balanced by the crisp rendering of accessories, striped shirts, shorts, and sandals—each detail infused with personality and presence.

Historical Context
Shaoli Chen’s work often explores the intersection of classical painting techniques and contemporary Chinese life. As a professor at Nanjing University of the Arts, his paintings serve as a visual chronicle of shifting social aesthetics. Summer reflects a moment of generational ease and freedom, a reflection of post-reform identity rooted in the beauty of simplicity.

Provenance
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

Condition and Conservation
The artwork is in very good condition, with clean paper, bright pigments, and no visible signs of wear or damage.

Artistic Significance
Summer is emblematic of Chen’s vision—depicting the grace and individuality of modern youth with the delicate hand of a classical painter. Through his use of subtle color, expressive line, and culturally resonant motifs, he creates works that are both of their time and timeless.