PAN TIANSHOU (1897-1971) LIU HAISU (1896-1994)

PAN TIANSHOU (1897-1971) LIU HAISU (1896-1994) A Resting Horse Hanging scroll, ink on paper 136.6 x 69.3 cm. (53¾ x 27¼ in.) Inscribed and signed, with three seals of Liu Haisu Dated fifth month, summer of guiyou year (1933) Note: Created in 1933 by Liu Haisu and Pan Tianshou at the beginning of their artist careers, this significant work encapsulates the words of the philosopher Mengzi "The great man is he who does not lose his child's-heart". The horse stands strong despite his diminishing physique, and expresses an awareness of its forlornness and indecision, as if with nowhere to go. Pan adds to the melancholy of the horse and paints a quiet background and a tree with sparse leaves, giving insight to the plight of the horse.