HUBERT VOS (Dutch, 1855-1935)

Hubert Vos’s work is often associated with the Impressionist movement, characterised by vibrant colours and light effects, and known for his interior scenes. He focused on capturing the essence of his subjects rather than detailed realism. Vos travelled extensively throughout Europe and Asia, which exposed him to various cultures and artistic styles. When Vos travelled to China in the early 20th century, around 1900, this trip was part of his broader interest in Asian cultures, and greatly influenced his artistic style. Vos was commissioned to create a portrait of Empress Dowager Cixi, now housed in the Palace Museum, Beijing. Upon his return to the United States, he created another portrait of Empress Dowager Cixi, depicting her with a much sterner expression and facial features more consistent with her real age, which is featured in another oil painting sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 2 December 2015, lot 3129, where Cixi's portrait is shown hanging on a wall behind the pianist (fig. 1).