Oil on canvas

36.5×47 cm. 14 3/8×18 1/2 in.

PROVENANCE
Acquired directly by original private Asian collector from the artist's family
3 Dec 2006, Jiatai Shanghai Autumn Auction, Lot 1075
Acquired directly by present private Asian collector from the above

Note: A label of The First Hong Kong International Chinese Oli Painting Exhibition Meilin Station is affixed on the reverse

A Dance with Colours
The Poetic Landscape by Tang Yunyu

In the art scene of the Republic of China, female painters were rare, but those with talent made a significant impact, advancing both women's liberation and the blending of Chinese and Western art styles. Tang Yunyu, known for her overseas education and exceptional painting skills, earned the title "First Talented Woman of Jiangnan" and was one of the "Four Great Female Oil Painters of Shanghai."

Mastery Across Cultures A Trailblazer in Art

Born in Jiangsu in 1906, Tang Yunyu studied under renowned artists such as Chen Baoyi, Wang Jiyuan, and Guan Liang. After graduating from the Art Department of Shen Zhou Women's School in 1920, she began teaching at Qiuxiu Girls' School in Shanghai. In 1926, she travelled to Japan to study under oil painters Ishii Hakutei and Mitsutani Kunishiro, where she was influenced by Impressionism and avant-garde art. Her poetic and serene style gained recognition in the Japanese art scene, with her work selected for the Tokyo Exhibition. At just 22, she held a solo exhibition in Shanghai, and her pieces like Still Life and Street in Suzhou were featured in the first National Art Exhibition. The prominent magazine The Ladies' Journal even compared her to Pan Yuliang. In 1930, Tang was admitted to the National School of the Arts in Paris, where she spent eight years studying portrait, still life, and landscape painting, with her works accepted into prestigious salons like Salon d'Automne and Salon des Tuileries. After returning to China, she taught oil painting at Xinhua Art College and the Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts. In 1947, she held a major solo exhibition at The Sun Company in Shanghai, showcasing over a hundred works, leaving a lasting impact on the art world.

Tang Yunyu favoured blue and green tones, giving her paintings clarity and elegance. Her fine brushwork skillfully captured natural light and shadow, merging the spirit of Chinese painting with Western techniques to depict the landscapes of her homeland. The featured works, Park(Lot 80) and Longhua Temple(Lot 79), are classic examples of her landscape paintings. Both pieces are from the artist's family collection, making them particularly valuable to collectors.

A Serene Corner The Tranquil Beauty of Park

Park uses a diagonal composition with soft blue and green tones to depict a peaceful afternoon. In the foreground, tall trees stretch upward, their leaves gently swaying under Tang's brush, mirroring the nearby saplings. Tang employs Impressionist techniques to capture sunlight filtering through the trees, using soft pink and light orange hues to simplify the shadows while maintaining depth and dimension. In the middle ground, straight lines form a pavilion, and a woman in a white dress sits on a bench, gazing into the distance. The man beside her is shown with a simple profile, creating an atmosphere of "clear skies and a gentle breeze," evoking a sense of peaceful, idyllic life that invites the viewer to linger in this serene world.

Hope Amidst Peace The Lush Beauty of Longhua Temple

Longhua Temple maintains the blue and green tones seen in Park but reflects more of the period's mood. The painting focuses on a spring visit to Shanghai's famous temple, with the scene unfolding around a vibrant flower bed. Vibrant bushes and leaves partially obscure the Longhua Pagoda and the main temple, creating a sense of mystery, like "a beauty behind a half-hidden veil." The surrounding structures are arranged around the pagoda, balancing the composition. The blue-white sky and lush green ground evoke peace and simplicity, while the bright white at the pagoda's peak contrasts with the darker clothing of the figures, adding depth. The red flag, waving in the breeze, serves as a final detail, subtly suggesting hope and renewal under the sun, carrying deeper meaning.

Price estimate:
HKD 60,000 – 100,000
USD 7,700 – 12,800