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Lot Essay
Misty Rain over Jianzhou is a landscape masterpiece painted by Zhang Daqian in 1940. Set in Jianzhou, Sichuan (present day Jiange County), the painting captures the region’s majestic and precipitous terrain. After the Second Sino-Japanese War broke out, Zhang Daqian sought refuge in Sichuan and explored local scenic spots. In early summer 1939, he visited Jianmen with Huang Junbi and Zhang Muhan, later feasting at Ziwei Hall in Jianzhou. The following day, inspired by the rain-shrouded mountains and misty landscapes during his return journey, he recorded the scene with his brush.
Zhang completed the painting in March 1940 and inscribed a detailed colophon about his travels. The work features a composition from bird’s eye view, with towering cliffs and swirling mists. The brushwork is vigorous yet moist, blending classical traditions with Zhang’s personal style. This piece exemplifies his mid-career landscape painting and offers valuable reference for the region’s geography and mindset of the literati during the war.
Zhang Daqian gifted the painting to his niece, Zhang Xinsu, addressing himself as the “Eighth Uncle Yuan.” Zhang cherished Xinsu deeply. She was the eldest daughter of his brother, Zhang Shanzi, and had studied painting under both her father and her uncle in Suzhou. When Xinsu married in early 1940, Zhang officiated the ceremony, and after Zhang Shanzi’s passing, he assumed a paternal role in her life. Their bond remained strong even after Zhang Daqian left China, with Xinsu later visiting him abroad. This treasured painting, given to a beloved niece, stands as a testament to their profound affection.
Zhang completed the painting in March 1940 and inscribed a detailed colophon about his travels. The work features a composition from bird’s eye view, with towering cliffs and swirling mists. The brushwork is vigorous yet moist, blending classical traditions with Zhang’s personal style. This piece exemplifies his mid-career landscape painting and offers valuable reference for the region’s geography and mindset of the literati during the war.
Zhang Daqian gifted the painting to his niece, Zhang Xinsu, addressing himself as the “Eighth Uncle Yuan.” Zhang cherished Xinsu deeply. She was the eldest daughter of his brother, Zhang Shanzi, and had studied painting under both her father and her uncle in Suzhou. When Xinsu married in early 1940, Zhang officiated the ceremony, and after Zhang Shanzi’s passing, he assumed a paternal role in her life. Their bond remained strong even after Zhang Daqian left China, with Xinsu later visiting him abroad. This treasured painting, given to a beloved niece, stands as a testament to their profound affection.