Bidspirit auction | He Tianjian's Landscape, Kong Xiaoyu's

He Tianjian's Landscape, Kong Xiaoyu's Flower Fan Surface - He Tianjian (1891-1977) was a renowned modern Chinese landscape painter from Wuxi, Jiangsu Province. Initially studying under Wu Changshuo and other Shanghai School masters, he developed a unique style blending the monumental grandeur of Northern school painting with the lyrical elegance of Southern traditions. He emphasized sketching from nature, traveling extensively to sacred mountains like Huangshan and Huashan. His works are characterized by vigorous brushwork and expressive ink wash, particularly known for his ”cloud-water technique”. As council member of Chinese Artists Association and vice-president of Shanghai Chinese Painting Academy, his masterpieces including Waiting for the Clear River and Cloud Sea of Huangshan are collected by the National Art Museum of China. His 1962 painting anthology and theoretical work Autobiographical Account of Learning Landscape Painting remain important educational references. Kong Xiaoyu (1899-1984) was a celebrated modern flower-and-bird painter from She County, Anhui Province. Inheriting the boneless technique of Yun Nantian while incorporating strengths of Ren Bonian and Xugu, he became famous for his accessible ”antique objects paintings” (bogu). His works often featured bronze vessels, ancient pottery, and fruits arranged in exquisite compositions with bright colors, combining scholarly refinement with vibrant vitality. Participating in the establishment of Shanghai Chinese Painting Academy in 1954, his representative works like Antique Objects and New Year's Offerings were frequently presented as state gifts. Devoting his later years to teaching, he nurtured numerous artists including his son Kong Borong. Kong revitalized traditional still-life painting and significantly influenced modern Shanghai School flower-and-bird painting.