Oil on canvas

215 × 145.5 cm. 84 5/8 × 57 1/4 in.

LITERATURE
13 Nov 1964, Tianjin Daily, Tianjin Daily Press Group, Tianjin
13 Nov 1964, Hebei Daily, Hebei Daily Newspaper Pressgroup, Shijiazhuang, p.4
1964, Art of Hebei 6th Issue (Bi-monthly), Hebei Fine Art Publishing House, Shijiazhuang
1965, Collection of Oil Paintings, Tianjin People's Fine Arts Publishing House, Tianjin, p.1
EXHIBITED
1964, 15th Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China – Heibei Artwork Collection, Hebei

PROVENANCE
23 Nov 2010, China Guardian Autumn Auction, Lot 11
Acquired directly by present important Asian collector from the above

Sonata of the Horn of the Times
An Mingyang's Important Representative Work-Steel Making

An Mingyang was born in Hebei in 1927. He participated in the revolution in 1941 and was a member of the Art Team of the Anti-Japanese Military and Political University. In 1951, he went to the Central Academy of Fine Arts and studied under Wu Zuoren and Zong Qixiang, and trained a solid foundation in painting. He combined artistic expression with current events, and made specific contributions for the development of Chinese art.

Epoch-making Works of the “New China”

In 1964, under the guidance of Chairman Mao and the State Council of “preparing for war, preparing for famine, and for the people”, China made a large-scale adjustment of the layout of the steel industry. Inspired by the progress of the country, An created the work Steel Making at this time. Once the work came out, it was published in the “Hebei Province Art Works Exhibition for the 15th Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China” held by the Hebei North Art Association that year. This exhibition is a major review of the creative ability of Beijing and Tianjin art workers, which is of profound epoch-making significance and self-evident. The works have been collected by important Asian private collectors for more than ten years, and it is a rare opportunity to appear again.

Stand Upright and Show the Talents and Ambitions

In the painting, three heroic youths vigorously look into the distance, giving a shocking sense of weight. The three of them all wore the fashionable Soviet-style round sunglasses and military-style peaked caps, and their gestures showed profound meaning. The man on the far right squinted his eyes behind his sunglasses and looked at the mountains far away. It the second man in the middle was slightly behind the right man, with his sunglasses on the top of his head and his eyes facing the scorching sun; the man on the far left is foresight. Although behind the two others, his steady posture is like a sculpture. Against the backdrop of the turmoil, the billowing smoke is like boiling steam in a steel mill, sounding the horn of the times!

The artist deliberately adopts a gradual layout of upper light and lower darkness. It seems like that the sun shines on the faces of the three people, reflecting a brilliant golden light. creating a strong dramatic effect and focusing the viewer's attention on the character's spirit.

Price estimate:
HKD: 250,000 – 350,000
USD: 32,200 – 45,100

Auction Result:
HKD: 295,000