Oil on canvas

46 × 60.5 cm. 18 1/8 x 23 7/8 in.

Dated and signed in Chinese on bottom right
PROVENANCE
Acquired directly by present Asian collector from the artist’s relative

The Poetry of the Space, the Soul of the People:
Wan Jinsheng was a member of the original faculty of the Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts and is credited with cementing the school’s reputation as a leading institution, and in 1954, his works were displayed at the first National Art Exhibition. Their down-to-earth realism would later become the representative style of the academy, influencing a whole generation of artists such as Wei Ershen and Gong Lilong. His landscapes are imbued with his free spirit, and this adds personal and subjective touches to otherwise objective depictions.
The work for auction, Market, was completed in 1983. It vividly portrays the scene of townspeople visiting the marketplace of a small city in the mountains. The city is a jumble of densely packed buildings; one is offered an overhead view of one of its main arteries, which is lined on both sides with merchants’ stalls that lead one’s gaze toward a thick grove in the distance. Some of the pedestrians along the street stand and chat, while others jostle by one another as they go about their day. In just a few simple brushstrokes, the artist brings their movements to life. Wan Jinsheng’s masterful grasp of elements such as hue, brightness, and saturation give the painting a subtlety and gentleness that evokes the poetic beauty of the mundane.
The overhead view adopted in Market is a common presence in Wan Jinsheng’s works. In this painting, it allows viewers to witness the commonplace scene of the market within a broader geographical and historical context. The surrounding buildings add an abundance of color and texture to the painting, while the mountains in the distance divide the scene into two distinct spaces. Meanwhile, the row of pedestrians creates an atmosphere that viewers can “read” in order to gain a sense of the culture of the city depicted. In Market, the artist stays true to his trademark minimalist style, creating a realistic scene infused with poetry and soul rather than pursuing sheer technical precision for precision’s sake.

Price estimate:
HKD: 80,000 - 150,000
USD: 10,300 - 19,200

Auction Result:
HKD: 94,400