Pencil and charcoal on paper

28 x 41 cm.11 x 16 1/8 in.

Signed in Chinese and English on lower right
PROVENANCE　Private Collection，Asia.

Sanyu
1901-1966
In the most remarkable sketches of Sanyu, we could only see women’s body and that is the most favorable theme of this unrestrained artist. These curvy lines shape up women image with plump and glossy skin, charms and seductive figures. Sanyu often draws profound and minimized limbs, head and exaggerated feet and legs to associate with the presentation of liberty and French-style pleasure and grace in the arts “Wild Beast” founded by Henri Matisse. Such deliberately exaggerating body proportion structure coincidentally reflects the exceptional American fun of Sanyu.

What makes Sanyu outstanding in the 20th century of Chinese arts is the irreplaceable oriental nobility of his works. The plains works implied with literati grace comes from his inborn art talents and skills plus the profound foundation of oriental culture, which leads to his qualities exhibited. Sanyu believes that there is commonality between the effects of dimension of abstraction and traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy. Hence it is common to see the intensity of traditional ink painting and aesthetics of artistry through the touch of his simple sketch lines, which are fully conveyed through the simple lines and dots. Such quality is specifically presented in this piece of “Nude Lady”. This piece of “Nude Lady” is not a body portrait with extreme transparency but a body sketch based on neutral visual angle exhibited through the perfect presentation of Sanyu simplistic and smooth strokes, unfolding the profile and lines of naked women. Sanyu also pays great attention to the outline of body structure by accompanying detailed portrait for the critical joints of human body in “Nude Lady.” The artist’s precision in bones and flesh are presented through live figures with excessive praises.

Price estimate:
HKD：100,000 - 150,000
USD：12,900 - 19,400

Auction Result:
HKD: 115,000