Oil on board

20.7×31.3 cm. 8 1/8×12 3/8 in.

LITERATURE
2005, The Paintings of QIN Xuanfu, People's Fine Arts Publishing House, Beijing, p.79
PROVENANCE
Original collection of the artist's family
22 Nov 2010, Chengxuan Beijing Autumn Auction, Lot 724
Acquired directly by present private Asian collector from the above

Reminiscing the Imperial Capital, Each Year Will the Spring Winds Return
A Portrait of Time from Qin Xuanfu's Brilliant Period

Qin Xuanfu graduated from the Foreign Languages Department of Tsinghua University in 1929 and was admitted to the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in France the following year, where he studied Western painting with the school director, Lucien Simon, and was inspired by Impressionism. At the same time, he studied art history in the Department of Archaeology at the University of Paris. His works were selected for the Salon des Indépendants in Paris in 1933 and 1934. After returning to China in 1934, he devoted to art education while working tirelessly on his artwork. In 1944, Mother's Teaching was shown at the Third National Exhibition of Fine Arts and won the Second Prize. His landscape painting Jialing River was purchased by the famous artist, Xu Beihong, demonstrating his highly acclaimed artistic status.

The period from 1949 to 1965 after the founding of New China is considered the "brilliant period" of Qin Xuanfu's creativity. During this time, he deeply observed the lives of the general public and painted an era of rejuvenation. Scenery of Beihai Park, completed in 1962, is representative of this period and has been in his family's collection for nearly half a century, before being treasured by a private collector for almost 14 years, making it particularly rare.

A Beautiful Sunset, Picturing Life in the Colours of Water and Sky

The Beihai Park, once a royal palace, is situated in the north-west of the Forbidden City. Using ochre, earthy yellow, and dark blue colours, Qin Xuanfu paints the faint silhouettes of the ancient pavilions against the setting sun in a highly abbreviated way. Then, the depiction of the shimmering tiles in gold indicates his keen insight into light and shadow and the use of colours. The artist employs Impressionist-like brushstrokes to render the subtly changing layers of violet and warm orange glow and the white clouds against the blue sky. Reflected in the mirror-like water, the sky is at one with the lake. Bold and hasty are his brushstrokes for the trees on the shore, like the caoshu script. Bathing the trees in golden colours in the setting sun, the artist's visual language mediates his immersion in the environment.

In the foreground, Qin Xuanfu does not rely on realism but uses a few confident strokes of dark tones to outline a boat in the water. The palace, once reserved for the royal family, is now accessible to the public. Condensing the change of time and the epitome of democracy and freedom, this romantic scene is rich in contemporary significance.

Price estimate:
HKD 70,000 – 120,000
USD 9,000 – 15,400

Auction Result:
HKD: 84,000