Paper Fragments, 1937
Yang Weiquanexpand_more
Ink and color on paperexpand_more
The Helen Jones Fund for Asian Artexpand_more 2005.54.2
Not on Viewexpand_more
Yang Weiquan was a native of Fuzhou who lived and worked in Shanghai during the early decades of the twentieth century. Like many Chinese artists of that era, he was familiar with western realism, a fact demonstrated in this painting executed with flawless trompe l'oeil effect.
At first look, the painting appears to be a collage comprised of scraps of old papers, ink rubbings, fragments of books and paintings, sutras with torn and burnt edges, and other literati ephemera seemingly emptied from a connoisseur’s wastebasket. The fragments are apparently arranged to simulate a scholar's rock. This unusual example of Chinese super-realism probably underscores Yang's concern over the loss of traditional literati values during his lifetime that seemed to be occurring with the dramatic westernization and political upheaval that China was then undergoing.
Details
- Title
- Paper Fragments
- Artist Life
- born 1885
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 2005.54.2
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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