Lot 423
  • 423

LEE MAN FONG | Telanjang Duduk (Seated Nude)

Estimate
600,000 - 900,000 HKD
bidding is closed

Description

  • Lee Man Fong
  • Telanjang Duduk (Seated Nude)
  • Signed in Chinese and stamped with two seals of the artist 
  • Oil on masonite board 
  • 122 by 60 cm; 48 by 23 1/2  in. 

Literature

Art Retreat, Lee Man Fong: Oil Paintings Volume II, Art Retreat Ltd., Singapore, 2005, P. 174, Colorplate 

Condition

This work is in good overall condition as viewed. There is evidence of wear, losses and accretions along the edges due to abrasions with the frame. There is a pinhole sized loss at the nude's stomach. Examination under ultraviolet light reveals no sign of restoration as viewed. Framed.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Catalogue Note

Lee Man Fong can be viewed as a realist painter, whose pieces celebrated human existence. Finding its voice as part of the classical nude art genre, Telanjang Duduk (Seated Nude) is one of the very few such works from the artist’s career, therefore a remarkably special piece that may be seen as Lee’s study of the female form, rather than a subjective analysis of womanhood. With an emphasis on depth and mood, the vertically oriented panel emanates a feeling of space, which is attributed to Lee’s strong influence of Western art. His selected color palette of rustic browns, ethereal blue drapery and a veil of warm light appears to wash over the woman, enhancing the nocturnal mood of the scene. The woman’s alluring and graceful presence fuels the narrative of the painting as her elegant pose covers her modesty while she is seemingly oblivious to the gaze of the audience, establishing a special ambience to the narrative.

Terlanjang Duduk (Seated Nude) is an intimate scene in which Lee has invited his audience to indulge in the quietude of the moment. The artist had a keen understanding of his external surroundings and relationships, and the rapport that appears to exist between the artist and the woman emphasizes the life force of the subjects, animating and immortalizing them as emblems of the country’s burgeoning modern art movement.