FU BAOSHI (1904-1965)

FU BAOSHI (1904-1965) Landscape Inspired by Dufu's Poetic Sentiments Scroll, mounted and framed, ink and colour on paper 208 x 59.5 cm. (81 7/8 x 23 3/8 in.) Inscribed and signed, with four seals of the artist Dated eighth month, autumn, jiashen year (1944) One collector's seal of He Yingqin (1889-1987) Note: This work was done in 1944 and is one of the peaks of his artistic endeavours. Measuring 208 by 59.5 cm, such a colossal painting is quite rare for the period. Fu Baoshi once comments on his working environment when living at Jinggangpo as follows: "I live next to Chenyugu Lane, in an extremely small hut on the hillside of Jinggangpo. It used to be a shack, and the area is not larger than a square yard. Its height is merely 8 or 9 feet. Light shines through only a few pieces of semi-opaque roof tiles... it is very inconvenient just to write a letter, let alone execute a painting. Out of necessity, after breakfast, the only square table in the hut needs to be hoisted next to the foyer, and I paint under the light shining from outdoors. After my work, the table has to be moved again back inside for meals and other purposes. Like this, I have to shift my working area twice a day - pick up used paper, wash my brush and ink stone, sweep the floor, and wipe the table everyday." Therefore such a distinctive and important masterpiece made in this period under such challenging condition is really exceptional.