Oil on canvas

43×49 cm. 16 7/8×19 1/4 in.

LITERATURE
1984, P.M. Selected Paintings of SUN Zongwei, People's Fine Arts Publishing House, Beijing, p.20
2000, SUN Chung Wei(1912-1979), Julia Gallery, Taipei, p.99
2010, Arts For Life, Documents of XU Beihong's Students, The Forbidden City Publishing House, Beijing, p.197
2012, SUN Zongwei 100 Years Retrospective Exhibition, People's Fine Arts Publishing House, Beijing, p.18
EXHIBITED
2 – 30 Dec 2000, The Lost Pearl in the Art World-SUN Zongwei's Oil Paintings, Julia Gallery, Taipei
11 – 20 Aug 2012, Real self — Sun Zhongwei Centennial Painting Exhibition, National Art Museum of China, Beijing

PROVENANCE
Acquired directly by original private Asian collector from the artist's family
22 May 2011, Beijing Cheng Xuan Spring Auction, Lot 880
17 Nov 2013, Beijing Huachen Autumn Auction, Lot 1306
Acquired directly by present private Asian collector from the above

Prawns and Delicacies, Poetry and Wine
Song of Sun Zongwei's Ode to Wartime Life

Sun Zongwei lived a difficult life. He was a frail and sickly child. His mother passed away when he was twelve, and when he was an adult, his father went bankrupt after the drought that impacted the areas in Jiangnan. With the financial support of friends and relatives, as well as hard work and frugal study, he was able to finish high school. At the age of 22, a year after he was admitted to the Department of Fine Arts at the National Central University, his father passed away. He did not bend his head down because of the difficult circumstances. Still, he continued to train and made great achievements in the nationalisation of oil paintings and the promotion of traditional national art, and eventually became an outstanding artist and educator.

Prawns, completed in 1939, is one of his rare early oil paintings. It was included in the artist's catalogue and twice presented in his major exhibitions. It is the only work with the theme of prawns among only 20 surviving still-life oil paintings by the artist. The work is from a well-established source and had been held by a private collector in Asia for more than 10 years before being released, making it a rare find.

Tranquillity, Happiness and Contentment

When the Sino-Japanese War broke out in 1937, the Central University of China was forced to move from Shanghai to Chongqing, and Sun Zongwei accompanied the university there. In 1938, he went to the front line of Huangchuan with Wu Zuoren and Chen Xiaonan, alongside other artists. Along the way, they observed the sufferings of people during wartime. At the end of the year, he returned for graduation and was invited by Xu Beihong to stay and teach. Prawns was created during this period, depicting a pair of large prawns, which were distributed along China's eastern coast and were rarely seen in the inner lands of the country at the time of food scarcity. Born in Jiangsu Province, Sun Zongwei earnestly painted the fleshy prawns in warm orange-red oil. The white highlights on the prawns are executed with just a few strokes, creating an oily sheen that stimulates the viewer's appetite. The knife on the side reflects subtle light, emphasising its fine and sharp texture. With its slightly chipped outer rim, the rustic white porcelain plate is covered by signs of use, reflecting the artist's diligent character. Everything comes to life in this vivid painting.

Sun Zongwei's fondness for prawns is not due to their rarity, but that they evoke a sense of nostalgia for his homeland, which is implied through his works. The wine glass behind the prawns expresses his youthful spirit as if it were a vision of a better future. As the French writer Romain Rolland said, "there is only one true heroism in the world: to see the world as it is, and to love it." Even during wartime, Sun Zongwei found beauty in everyday life. He persevered with his literati sentiment and ambition amid hardship. In turn, his works reveal extraordinary vigour and elegance, moving countless hearts.

Price estimate:
HKD 350,000 – 450,000
USD 44,900 – 57,700

Auction Result:
HKD: -