Pastel on paper

55 × 38 cm. 21 5/8 x 15 in.

Signed in Chinese on bottom right
PROVENANCE
Important Private Collection, Asia

The best season comes when orange turns yellow and tangerine goes green
Orange Tree
by Li Chaoshi
Never going with the flow, Li Chaoshi is recognized as the pioneer of Chinese gouache painting, for his origin and unadorned artistic language and his in-depth research on gouache. Throughout his life, he has devoted himself to the creation and teaching of gouache painting. Among numerous talents who studied under him are Wu Guanzhong, Zao Wou-Ki, and Pan Yuliang, and his works are collected by the National Art Museum of China, Nanjing Art Museum, and Shandong University of Art and Design. At the end of the 19th century, Li went to study at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Paris and was deeply influenced by the Impressionists such as Edgar Degas and Auguste Renoir. He kept instant inspirations and philosophical thoughts in his work through the medium of gouache, which is succinct and sprightly, expressive and varied. By incorporating the Eastern aesthetic interest in the picture, Li has combined the meticulous and precise composition of traditional Chinese painting with the unrestrained use of color of the Impressionists.
The piece, Orange Tree, was completed in 1956. In the work, the green branches are extending within the image, the greenish-yellow oranges are full of vigor, while the green background reveals a sense of autumn, and the subtle contrast between light and dark sets off the inner vitality of the orange tree. The artist balanced the visual images through a meticulous yet simple arrangement, which conveys a silent power. In the depiction of orange trees, the bold yet refined lines carry the strength of traditional Chinese brushstroke, while in the same time presents the beauty of classical Western form. In the layering of the gouache lies a peaceful moment, endowing the painting intriguing artistic charm.

Price estimate:
HKD: 400,000 - 500,000
USD: 51,000 - 63,700

Auction Result:
HKD : --