ZHANG DAQIAN (1899-1983)

ZHANG DAQIAN (1899-1983) Lady in Indian Dress Scroll, mounted and framed, ink and colour on paper 79 x 46 cm. (31 1/8 x 18 1/8 in.) Inscribed and signed, with one seal of the artist Dated autumn, gengyin year (1950) Dedicated to Liangnian and Yangfeng NOTE: This painting was previously owned by Mr. Liu Liangnian. In 1950, with the assistance of Luo Jialun, Zhang Daqian held an exhibition in New Delhi, India. He was attracted by the scenery of Darjeeling and decided to stay there for a while. He looked upon the period as having brought a tone of exuberance to his work. This painting was completed in the autumn of 1950 in Darjeeling. The unique Indian silk of the lady's dress was so fine, it was said that it could pass through a ring, and even when folded into seven layers, the skin was still visible through the silk. Life in the Himalayas, however, was so quiet that it could not detain the sociable artist for long. When he returned to Hong Kong in 1951, Liu Liangnian arranged a big banquet to welcome him and Zhang Daqian was overjoyed at the gesture.