亞洲現代與當代藝術 Modern and Contemporary Asian Art

205
SANYU
(Chinese-French, 1895 - 1966)
The Hidden Beauty
1920 - 1930s
Ink on paper
45 x 28 cm
Signed lower right YU in Chinese and SANYU
PROVENANCE
Former collection of Federico Cappelin, Paris (acquired directly
from the artist)
Important private collection, Europe
ILLUSTRATED
Rita Wong, Sanyu Catalogue Raisonné: Drawings and
Watercolor, The Li-Ching Culture and Educational Foundation,
Taipei, 2014, color illustrated, p. 45, no. D0523 (flash drive)
1920 - 1930
45 x 28 cm
SANYU
201445D0523 ()
NT$ 700,000-1,200,000
HK$ 189,000-323,000
US$ 24,100-41,300
RMB 152,000-260,000
20
黯 黯 微 光 中 , 遊 走 在 城 市 中 孤 獨 卻 自 由 的 靈 魂 由 於 波 特 萊
爾 , 巴 黎 第 一 次 成 為 抒 情 詩 的 主 題
Sanyu's works on paper are known for the long and fluid continuous
lines he makes on them, as well as the sensual portrayals of nude
women using Chinese calligraphic strokes. Whether sketching with
pencil and quickly using a charcoal pencil to increase the sense of
volume, or a Chinese paint brush to leave gracefully fluid strokes on
the paper, the final results are rarely seen modern clashes between
Eastern and Western visuals. It is within such clashing visuals that
the charm of Sanyu's sketches can truly be seen.
One of the most important expressionist painters of the early 20th
century, Egon Schiele was a master at depicting twisted figures
through sketches. The lines found in his sketches are strung tightly
by the tension of the blaze of emotions within his drawings. The
similarity between these two is that they both portray the human
body using exaggerated shapes and styles. In comparison to
Sanyu's works filled with literary and humanistic tones, Schiele's
works give off an arrogant and sadistic visual impact. The German
philosopher Benjamin once said, "In the glimmer of light, the soul
that strolls alone leisurely through the streets belongs to Baudelaire,
Paris becomes for the first time, the topic of lyric poem." Sanyu
and Schiele, both lonely souls that loved freedom, both artists
that enjoyed using the body movements of the figures within their
drawings to express their own emotions, and both with the same
insistence on their own principles in regards to art.
This work, “The Hidden Beauty”, is one of the most unique pieces
of work by Sanyu presented at this auction. The concealment
of the face within the drawing makes it impossible to use facial
expressions to guess the emotions of the figure in the drawing.
The disproportionately buxom upper body, buttocks, and legs are
typical of the female figures depicted in Sanyu's drawings. The
figure's body language is unique and mellow, much like the flowing
clouds and running water depicted in the style of filament drawings
inspired by the spinning of silk by silkworm, reflecting the unique
charm of the essence of Sanyu's drawings.
1918
Egon Schiele, Bending woman with head bowed and crossed hands, 1918,
Charcoal on paper, 46 x 29.5 cm
1917
Egon Schiele, Weiblicher Torso in Unterwäsche und schwarzen Strümpfen, 1917, Gouache,
watercolor and black Conté crayon on paper, 46 x 29.8 cm
88