SANYU: Where the Line Begins

Christie’s is proud to present SANYU: Where the Line Begins, an online auction dedicated to works on paper by Sanyu, formerly from the collection of Federico Cappellin, a close friend of the artist during the final years of his life. 

Predominantly executed during the 1920s and 1930s, this unique ensemble captures Sanyu’s formative years in Paris, revealing his experimentation with ink, pencil, and charcoal, as well as his deep immersion in the avant-garde circles of Montparnasse and the Académie de la Grande Chaumière.

Acquired directly from the artist between 1960 and 1966, these works offer a rare and intimate insight into Sanyu’s distinctive approach to line and form. Bridging Eastern calligraphic tradition with Western modernism, they demonstrate the central role of drawing in Sanyu’s artistic practice, underscoring its importance as an essential and independent form of expression, while offering a unique perspective into the core of Sanyu’s artistic universe.

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