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拍品專文
Xu Beihong (1895–1953) stands as a key figure in the formation of modern Chinese painting, renowned for uniting ink tradition with Western realism. While best known for his horses, he worked across a wide range of subjects, including roosters, lions, and birds, rendered with an economy of brushwork that captures both form and spirit.
In Chinese culture, the rooster carries auspicious meanings through its homophones with guan (“official rank”) and ming (“fame”), and is associated with the “five virtues” of civility, martial strength, courage, benevolence, and trustworthiness. In Xu Beihong’s hands, it also becomes a symbol of renewal, the crowing bird at dawn evoking awakening and forward momentum in a time of uncertainty.
The present Two Roosters is striking in its clarity: a black and a white rooster stand side by side, both facing forward. The white bird is rendered in light ink with areas of reserve, its rear plumage touched with warm yellow brown, while the black rooster is built up through layered washes of dense ink, creating a vivid contrast. With necks outstretched and beaks open, they appear to crow in unison, conveying vitality and immediacy. Subtle tonal variation and controlled brushwork articulate the texture of feathers and movement, exemplifying the principle that ink can yield a full range of tonal expression.
The bamboo at the right introduces a further layer of meaning. Through a play on words, ji (rooster) suggests auspiciousness, while zhu (bamboo) echoes “to wish,” and its upward growth signifies advancement. Together, they form a concise visual blessing for success and progress. At the same time, bamboo embodies the moral ideal of the gentleman, upright, resilient, and modest, complementing the rooster’s “five virtues.”
This pairing also stabilizes the composition: the animated roosters contrast with the still, vertical bamboo, creating a balance between movement and restraint. Set within the context of a New Year gift, the image conveys both a personal wish for good fortune and a broader sentiment of perseverance and renewal.
In Chinese culture, the rooster carries auspicious meanings through its homophones with guan (“official rank”) and ming (“fame”), and is associated with the “five virtues” of civility, martial strength, courage, benevolence, and trustworthiness. In Xu Beihong’s hands, it also becomes a symbol of renewal, the crowing bird at dawn evoking awakening and forward momentum in a time of uncertainty.
The present Two Roosters is striking in its clarity: a black and a white rooster stand side by side, both facing forward. The white bird is rendered in light ink with areas of reserve, its rear plumage touched with warm yellow brown, while the black rooster is built up through layered washes of dense ink, creating a vivid contrast. With necks outstretched and beaks open, they appear to crow in unison, conveying vitality and immediacy. Subtle tonal variation and controlled brushwork articulate the texture of feathers and movement, exemplifying the principle that ink can yield a full range of tonal expression.
The bamboo at the right introduces a further layer of meaning. Through a play on words, ji (rooster) suggests auspiciousness, while zhu (bamboo) echoes “to wish,” and its upward growth signifies advancement. Together, they form a concise visual blessing for success and progress. At the same time, bamboo embodies the moral ideal of the gentleman, upright, resilient, and modest, complementing the rooster’s “five virtues.”
This pairing also stabilizes the composition: the animated roosters contrast with the still, vertical bamboo, creating a balance between movement and restraint. Set within the context of a New Year gift, the image conveys both a personal wish for good fortune and a broader sentiment of perseverance and renewal.