Oil on canvas

52 x 56 cm. 20 1/2 × 22 in.

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

LITERATURE
2007, Painting of Ai Zhongxin, Beijing Art and Photography Publishing House, Beijing, p.76
2007, The Catalogue Raisonné of Ai Zhongxin, Encyclopedia of China Publishing House, Beijing, p. 178 & 205
PROVENANCE
Acquired directly by present private Asian collector from the artist

When the Morning Haze Arrives to My Hometown, the Autumn Trees Hold Deep Affection
Ai Zhongxin's Resilient Ancient Soul Under His Brushwork

Born in 1915 in Jiangsu, Ai Zhongxin was an outstanding artist and art educator. He was admitted to the Art Department of the National Central University's College of Education at the age of 21, studying oil painting and sketching under Xu Beihong and Wu Zuoren, learning art theory under Fu Baoshi, and studying landscape painting under Huang Junbi, integrating the essence of various schools. After graduating in 1940, he was recruited to stay at the university as a teacher due to his excellent performance. He worked in the field of education for over half a century and held important positions such as professor at the China Academy of Fine Arts and deputy dean of the Central Academy of Fine Arts. As an outstanding representative of the second generation of Chinese oil painting, Ai Zhongxin devoted himself to the study of realistic oil painting, extracting art that reflected the pulse of the times from social practice, and advocated "expressiveness within realism." He had a deep understanding of French Barbizon school painter Camille Corot's lyrical landscapes, blending Eastern ink painting thoughts that emphasized intention in brushwork. He used refined brushstrokes to paint a charm rooted in reality, graceful and elegant, and could be described as "depicting poetry in painting." He was referred to as the "ink and brush of Chinese oil painting" by Li Keran. His works have been collected by important institutions such as the National Art Museum of China, Long Museum, and Taikang Art Centre.

The Original Intention Remains Unchanged with the Passage of Time

The painting The Southern New Village brought by this autumn auction is an important representative work of Ai Zhongxin's art during the peak of his career, with trees as the protagonist. At that time, after more than ten years of hiatus due to the Cultural Revolution, he was able to resume creating art and travel to various places for inspiration. He was particularly fond of painting "ancient trees" with a sense of self-identification, as recalled by his student Zhong Han: "During this period, he liked to paint ancient trees, which was a reflection of his aspirations." Additionally, two art catalogues of Ai Zhongxin specifically selected tree-themed works as covers when they were published in 2007, further proving the significance of this theme. Throughout his life, he only completed less than 24 works with this theme, while this piece is one of them, and the only one with a delicate and charming pink colour scheme, making it exceptionally rare.

The artwork depicts the new style of Ai Zhongxin's hometown Jiangnan after the reform and opening up. In the painting, the sunrise illuminates the high sky, tinted into warm orange and yellow. The sky near the horizon is a blue-purple colour, as if still quietly sleeping. Between the two layers of warm and cool colours, Ai Zhongxin delicately transitions with a sophisticated grey tone, showcasing the dynamic natural scenery. The fertile fields in front of the village are dyed with a splendid purple-pink colour by the morning haze, full of the vitality hidden in the land. The trees in the foreground, occupying the largest area, are depicted by Ai Zhongxin with strokes of reddish-brown and deep cocoa, showing distinct joints and the characteristics of thriving growth after experiencing harsh winters. The portrayal of the branches reveals a sense of Chinese ink painting charm, with branches floating like spring clouds, sometimes clear and powerful, sometimes indistinct. Ai Zhongxin vividly presents the misty beauty of a morning forest, creating a sense of space. The simplicity of the red dots on the branches marks the sporadic autumn leaves, resembling heavy fruit, silently telling the story of changing seasons and overlapping years. The old tree here is like a reflection of the artist himself, baptized by the years, silently guarding the hard-won rebirth. The tenderness and nostalgia for his hometown, the emotions of farewelling to the old and welcoming the new, and the firmness of silent vigilance are vividly portrayed in the tranquil atmosphere of the painting, with an underlying joy of rebirth after being tested by fire, leaving a lasting impression.

Price estimate:
HKD 140,000 – 200,000
USD 17,900 – 25,600