China. Ink and watercolors on cardboard. Depicting a blossoming lotus flower amid large leaves, boldly painted with alternating thin and thick brushstrokes. The cardboard with silver specks and a thin gold border.

Expert’s note: Although Zhang Daqian’s lotus paintings are not uncommon, there exist only few examples where the artist was able to ingeniously portray the subject in such a prolific and balanced manner despite a small format, in this case only 27 x 24 cm. Zhang uses the boneless painting technique to arrange the overlapping foliage, while the lotus leaves painted with varying shades of ink emphasize the sense of three dimensionality, as if they would sway with the wind. The lotus flower is accentuated by meticulously dotted and splashed red buds, a technique that looks simple but in fact is both time-consuming and resource-draining, and thus not frequently seen in the artist’s oeuvre. Nevertheless it contributes significantly to the majestic aura of the painting. Black and red lotus bring to mind a well-known saying by Yang Wanli of the Southern Song dynasty: “Lotus leaves towards the horizon in endless green. Lotus blossoms bathed in sunlight in peerless red.” With its unusually small-scale yet fine composition, this masterpiece is a prime model for understanding Zhang Daqian’s accomplishments in lotus painting.

Inscriptions: Lower right, signed ‘Daqian jushi Yuan’. One seal, ‘Zhang Yuan zhi yin’

Provenance: From a notable Hong Kong private collection.
Condition: Excellent condition with minor wear, some minor stains, rubbing and soiling mostly to edges.

Dimensions: Image size 27.1 x 24.1 cm, Size incl. frame 56.8 x 49.1 cm

Framed behind glass. (2)

Zhang Daqian (1899-1983) was one of the best-known and most prodigious Chinese artists of the twentieth century. Originally active as a guohua (traditionalist) painter, by the 1960s he was also renowned as a modern impressionist and expressionist painter. In addition, he is regarded as one of the most gifted master forgers of the twentieth century. After the Communist Revolution in 1949, he left China and spent years living in South and North America, extensively touring Northern California. Chang’s first California solo exhibition in 1967 at Stanford University attracted an opening reception crowd of a thousand. Finally, he settled in Taipei, Taiwan in 1978. During his years of wandering, he had several wives simultaneously, curried favor with influential people, and maintained a large entourage of relatives and supporters. He also kept a pet gibbon and affected the long robe and long beard of a traditional Chinese scholar.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Sotheby’s Hong Kong, 8 October 2020, lot 3097
Price: HKD 1,638,000 or approx. EUR 210,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: Zhang Daqian, Lotus
Expert remark: Note the significantly larger size (50.8 x 63.5 cm) and that this lot is also painted on cardboard

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie’s Hong Kong, 1 December 2015, lot 1351
Price: HKD 4,840,000 or approx. EUR 700,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: Zhang Daqian (1899-1983), Lotus in Bloom
Expert remark: Note the significantly larger size (57.8 x 91 cm) and that this lot is also painted on cardboard

張大千 (1899-1983) 款《墨荷》
中國，紙本設色。荷葉間盛開的荷花，構圖飽滿，疏密有致，用筆豪放大氣，格調清新典雅。灑銀紙細金邊框。

專家注釋：雖然張大千的荷花並不少見，但很少有藝術家能夠在幅面很小的情況下以如此巧妙地描繪，此畫27 x 24厘米。沒骨法並用深淺不一的水墨描繪的荷葉，彷彿隨風搖曳。此幅作品規模異常小，構圖精美。

款識：大千居士爰
鈴印：張爰之印

來源：香港知名私人收藏。
品相：狀況極好，有輕微磨損和污漬，邊緣有磨擦痕跡和污點。

尺寸：畫面27.1 x 24.1 厘米，含框56.8 x 49.1 厘米

鏡片。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：香港蘇富比，2020年10月8日，lot 3097
價格：HKD 1,638,000（相當於今日EUR 210,000）
描述：張大千《荷塘香溢》
專家評論：請注意尺寸明顯較大 (50.8 x 63.5 厘米) ，以及此圖為紙板鏡框。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：香港佳士得，2015年12月1日，lot 1351
價格：HKD 4,840,000（相當於今日EUR 700,000）
描述：張大千《蓮花盛開》
專家評論：請注意尺寸明顯較大 (57.8 x 91 厘米)，以及此圖應為紙板鏡框。