Oil on canvas

53 x 90.5 cm. 20 6/7 x 35 5/8 in.

Signed in Chinese on bottom right; titled and signed in Chinese, dated on the reverse

LITERATURE
2007, Complete Collection of Ai Zhongxin Paintings, Encyclopedia of China Publishing House, Beijing, p.205
PROVENANCE
Acquired directly from present Asian collector from the artist

Like a Dragon on Earth, Like the Milky Way Across the Heaven
Ai Zhongxin's Depiction of Dujiangyan, Sichuan

While Ai Zhongxin's works are indeed rooted in reality and based on actual life, they do not try to copy the real world. As such, this pioneer of modern Chinese oil painting developed his unique “creative realism” concept. Ai studied with the first generation of Chinese oil painters, including Xu Beihong and Wu Zuoren, and became their successor. In addition, he absorbed the traditional style of European oil painting. Therefore, as a both traditional and innovative artist, he holds a special place in the history of Chinese 20th century art development.

Chinese Landscape Painting with Rich Historical and Cultural Connotations
Autumn Landscape (Dujiangyan)
Ai Zhongxin visited most of China's famous attractions and at the same time had a deep understanding of Western history and culture. Throughout his life, he devoted himself to creating natural landscape paintings that provide viewers with intellectual nourishment, as they represent the outstanding achievements of social development. Autumn Landscape (Dujiangyan), created in 1992, is one of Ai's notable works from his later years.
The artist utilized his exquisite and rich painting techniques to depict the vast mountainous scenery of the world-famous Dujiangyan. He was able to show the extraordinary powers of nature by portraying the circular current at the river bend caused by the small island in the middle. The picture features a vast expanse of whiteness of the cloud cover visible between the steep mountains cut by the passing river. Ai expressed the varying distance of the mountains by using different shades of gray. Contrasted with the deep blue water, the river valley seems even more magnificent. There is a white Chinese-style bridge in the distance, reminding viewers of Dujiangyan's 2,000-year history of water management. The colors of the clouds and the sky in the upper part of the picture merge together, while the mountains in the background seem to stretch far, far away, highlighting how the influence of the ancient irrigation system in Dujiangyan continues to this very day.

Price estimate:
HKD: 200,000 – 300,000
USD: 25,500 – 38,300

Auction Result:
HKD: 236,000