Li Keran Boy And Buffalo Ink and Colour on Paper

Li Keran, Chinese Artist (attributed) - An ink and colour on paper with a grey floral patterned mount and a narrow stained timber frame (under glass). The depiction of a boy with water buffalo beneath a flowering cherry tree is a recurring theme for the artist. The work is inscribed and signed in the top left corner with two red artists seals.

 

Li Keran (1907 – 1989) was a contemporary Chinese guohua painter (painting in the traditional style) and art teacher. He was one of the most important Chinese artists in the latter half of the 20th century. He was professor at the Central Academy of Fine Arts where he taught a generation of Chinese artists. He was known for his traditional literati paintings with influences from master Chinese artists Qi Baishid and Huang Binhong. The literati painting or wenrenhua is the ideal form of the Chinese scholar-painter who was more interested in personal erudition and expression than in literal representation or an immediately attractive surface beauty.

 

Li's paintings are highly valued in the international market. His works are held in major collections including, the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria in Canada and the National Museum of China in Beijing.

 

This work was purchased at auction as being by the famous artist Li Keran. However, the only provenance I have is that the vendor was an elderly Chinese gentleman who emigrated from China to Australia around 1990 and brought the work with him. Consequently, I am listing the work as 'attributed' rather than 'by'. Please ensure that you have assessed the work carefully before making offers. Please feel free to ask any questions or request additional images.

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Note:  Images contain camera glare off glass