Sanyu, the Parisian Chinese

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

Sanyu (Chang Yu) spent his artistic career in Paris. The Chinese artist was mainly known as a small master of female nude studies, very distorted, which sometimes remind Kisling's art.

In the 1950s, he changed his style, since then inspired by Chinese tradition, in carefully composed works that depict plants, small animals, sometimes a stylized landscape, sometimes an ancient Chinese poem. The paintings of this period are raised gradually for three years to the heights of the art market.

On May 24, Christie's Hong Kong sold 41 MHK$ fees included an oil on panel, 154 x 77 cm. A shrub is planted in a flower pot. At the top, a bird is feeding three chicks in their nest. Below, a cat standing on his feet is watching the scene. There is a striking contrast between the dark background and plant and the bright details of the story.

On October 6, Lotus et Poissons Rouges (Lotus and Red Fish) is estimated 15 MHK$ at Sotheby's in Hong Kong. The painter liked this large painting, 117 x 179 cm, which is seen behind him in a photo taken in 1956 in his studio. The water, the perspective of water surface and the sky split the painting in almost parallel strips scratched by the stylized lotus.

The lotus is a symbol of strength and purity. The press release indicates that this flower inspired at the same time Zhang Daqian (Chang Dai-chien), another outstanding Chinese artist who will have his place later in this column.

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

Excellent result at 36.5 MHK $ including premium, which confirms that the price obtained by Christie's in May was not an isolated phenomenon.

The results of Sanyu are to be followed closely, at least for his works of the 50s.