Lot 1379: LU SHIBAI

LU SHIBAI
(1905-1973)
Forest
signed in Chinese (lower right)
oil on wood
46.5 x 37 cm. (18 3/8 x 14 1/2 in.)

Private Collection, Asia

Born in the rural area of Jiangsu, Lu Shibai's paintings feature the countryside as a regular theme, and the colors of yellow, brown and green are present throughout his works. Lu's works demonstrate a beauty of simplicity and tranquility in his portrait and still-life paintings. His paintings always employ compact and succinct compositions, combined with a nuanced delineation of everyday situations and lives of ordinary people. A tranquil and meditative ambiance invites spectators to enjoy the beauty of the most mundane aspects of everyday life. This is typified in Resting Lady (Lot 1380) where the figure is in a deep dreamy sleep, her face softly burrowed in her arms. In Forest (Lot 1379) the looming trees provide temporary shade for the wandering people below, whose small stature is almost negligible if not for Lu Shibai's use of sharp colours to contrast the earthy tones of the outdoors. Even behind the trees, Lu has depicted the gentle slope of a snow capped mountain, reminding us of Lu Shibai's deep respect for the magnificence of nature.