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Lot Essay
Zhang Daqian's lotuses are charged with a rhythmic vitality, influenced by his great love and gift for learning from nature and painting from life. Zhang's interest in lotuses began from young, and maintained to be a returning subject throughout his artistic career. Zhang closely observed the form and patterns of lotus flowers, from Suzhou in the early 30's to Kunming Lake in the mid-30's, even bringing the species with him to Brazil and the US.
Zhang expertly defines the layers of ink with different brushstrokes to balance the different elements of his lotus compositions - laden with heavy ink, the heaviness of the lotus leaves are balanced with the graceful, elongated lotus stems that support flowering lotus buds at its tip, confirming Zhang's belief that "Chinese painting focuses on the brush and ink , and painting lotus requires the basics of both."
Zhang expertly defines the layers of ink with different brushstrokes to balance the different elements of his lotus compositions - laden with heavy ink, the heaviness of the lotus leaves are balanced with the graceful, elongated lotus stems that support flowering lotus buds at its tip, confirming Zhang's belief that "Chinese painting focuses on the brush and ink , and painting lotus requires the basics of both."