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Lot Essay
In the year 1941, Lee Man Fong had his first meeting with the well regarded Chinese master Xu Bei Hong who is noted for his forceful rendition of horses. Before this meeting, both of them had been in correspondence with each other. Man Fong regarded Xu Bei Hong, who was of greater seniority and more established as an artist, to be his mentor, whose advice he constantly sought.
Although trained in Paris, Bei Hong was nevertheless well versed in the classical training which placed emphasis on the use of brushes and black ink. Bei Hong attained the status of a master painter of horses because he was able to create a 'new breed of painted horse'. The virile eloquence as expressed by Bei Hong's horses is often regarded as his signature style, which Man Fong greatly admired and wished to emulate.
The present lot is a wonderful rendition of the horses with minimal lines but nevertheless a realistic sense of vivacity, much in tune with the style of Bei Hong. The presentation of the forms in refined and fluid lines are further enhanced by the Chinese artistic style of 'preserving the whites' which basically entails the reservation of empty space leaving the image starkingly undisturbed.
Although trained in Paris, Bei Hong was nevertheless well versed in the classical training which placed emphasis on the use of brushes and black ink. Bei Hong attained the status of a master painter of horses because he was able to create a 'new breed of painted horse'. The virile eloquence as expressed by Bei Hong's horses is often regarded as his signature style, which Man Fong greatly admired and wished to emulate.
The present lot is a wonderful rendition of the horses with minimal lines but nevertheless a realistic sense of vivacity, much in tune with the style of Bei Hong. The presentation of the forms in refined and fluid lines are further enhanced by the Chinese artistic style of 'preserving the whites' which basically entails the reservation of empty space leaving the image starkingly undisturbed.