Chinese Beauty By Zhang Daqian (1899-1983):
A woman is placing a flower in her hair, adding to her other adornments. Her features are delicately painted, accented with red lips. A branch with autumn leaves is hanging overhead. Calligraphy and artist's marks on left side.

Zhang was born in 1899 in Sichuan Province to a financially struggling but artistic family. His first commission came at age 12, when a traveling fortune-teller requested he paint her a new set of divining cards. At age 17 he was captured by bandits while returning home from boarding school in Chongqing. When the bandit chief ordered him to write a letter home demanding a ransom, he was so impressed by the boy's brushmanship that he made the boy his personal secretary. During the more than three months that he was held captive, he read books of poetry which the bandits had looted from raided homes.
As a young adult Chang moved to Kyoto to learn textile dyeing techniques. He later returned to Shanghai and established a successful career selling his paintings.

The governor of Qinghai, Ma Bufang, sent Zhang to Sku'bum to seek helpers for analyzing and copying Dunhuang's Buddhist art.

Due to the political climate of China in 1949, he left the country and resided in Mendoza, Argentina, São Paulo and Mogi das Cruzes, Brazil, and then to Carmel, California, before settling 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. He affected the long robe and long beard of a scholar.

A meeting between Zhang and Picasso in Nice, France in 1956 was viewed as a summit between the preeminent masters of Eastern and Western art. The two men exchanged paintings at this meeting.

Provenance: Hendersonville, TN collection.
76 1/2 x 18 1/4"
$200 - $400
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Auction Description:
East Meets West in this exciting end of summer sale:
Beginning at 9 AM, New York time
Lot 1 - 266 9 AM - 3 PM
Lot 267 - 477 will begin no earlier than 3 PM New York time

Eastern items will begin to sell at 9 AM EST: antique bronze Buddha statues and censers, fine antique cloisonné including triple crane censer, many jade carvings, furniture including zitan and huanghuali, porcelain vases & panels, paintings, embroideries, screens, brush pots & ink stones. Many of these items are from local estates and collections.

Western lots no earlier than 3 PM EST: Fine paintings and prints including Icart & Laurens, fine gold & diamond estate jewelry, Native American silver, watches & clocks including Herschede, Atmos and Spaulding, antique silver and gold coins, vintage clothing including wedding gowns, rugs & textiles, porcelain including Art Nouveau signed Sevres lamp & Beleek basket, and a collection of Tribal masks, statues & weapons. Many of these items are from local collections and estates.

Some visible smudging, not within painting.

The absence of a condition statement does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition or completely free from wear and tear, imperfections or the effects of aging. Condition requests can be obtained via email or by telephone. Any condition statement given, as a courtesy to a client, is only an opinion and should not be treated as a statement of fact. Converse Auctions shall have no responsibility for any error or omission.
High resolution images from this auction can be seen by visiting our Dropbox site for this auction.