Lot  648 Ravenel Autumn Auction 2021 Taipei

Ravenel Autumn Auction 2021 Taipei

Magpies and Maple Tree

YU Chung-Lin (Taiwanese, 1925 - 1985)

1984

Ink and colour on paper, framed

68 x 131 cm

Estimate

TWD 460,000-700,000

HKD 128,000-196,000

USD 16,500-25,100

CNY 107,000-163,000

Sold Price

TWD 900,000

HKD 252,809

USD 32,468

CNY 206,897


Signature

Signed Chung-lin in Chinese
With two seals of the artist

PROVENANCE
Acquired directly from the artist's family

EXHIBITED
"Elegance and Grace: A Memorial Exhibition of Flower and Bird Paintings by Yu Chung-Lin", National Museum of History, Taipei, 14 January, 2012 - 28 February, 2012

ILLUSTRATED
Elegance and Grace: A Commemorative Collection of Flower and Bird Paintings by Yu Chung-Lin, National Museum of History, Taipei, 2012, pp. 34-35

+ OVERVIEW

Magpies and Maple Tree was made in the autumn of 1984. This full-framed work was composed with a branch of maple tree stretching out from the rock on the left. Layers of maple leaves highlight the depth of the structure, while displaying their exquisite colours of autumn. Two magpies, one on the branch and one flying in motion, look towards one another. Curves of their tails guide the eyes of the viewer throughout the painting while highlighting the elegance of the birds. This shows the meticulous thoughts and skilful brush of the painter, while portraying himself as a bird, creating such an emotionally vivid painting. To fully understand the thoughts of the painter, one must interview his closest relatives. According to his daughter, this work was the last large-scale masterpiece completed before the artist's death. A year before his death, the artist used strenuous power to meticulously paint in a standard equivalent to the one of prestigious Song school. In this work, magpies look into each other's eyes before the flying bird leaves the scene. As we put the work alongside the artist's timeline, the viewer could immediately associate this work with a message of farewell, thus making this work an intriguing and magnificent gift of the artist.
Related Info

Refined Brushwork:Ink Paintings & Works of Art

Ravenel Autumn Auction 2021 Taipei

Saturday, December 4, 2021, 1:30pm