WU GUANZHONG | Residences by the River

with two seals of the artist

-Generally in good condition.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

In the spring of 1980, Wu Guanzhong took his students to Suzhou to sketch the Jiangnan scenery en plein air, he painted various notable Suzhou gardens and ancient towns, and executed a large number of sketches during this trip.  Based on one of the sketches, he created this work, Residences by the River.The arrangement of the houses shows the variety of their heights, while the black forms of the windows and roofs constitute a stark contrast with the white walls, together they delineate the spatial depth of the village. The narrow step street on the right side of the canvas extends from the village to the river, compelling viewers’ eyes to focus on the willows in front of the houses. Compare with his sketches, Household on Waters, this artwork emphasizes on the form of the twisting and intertwining branches, the white walls are also expanded to stimulates a harmonizing visual effect with the vibrant colours of the willows. The artist painted the branches of diverse shapes with dark ink. These dynamic strokes break through the flourishing green leaves, and vivid dots of red, purple, blue and green to bring a fresh vitality to this painting. All in all, this work is a testament to the magical ability of Wu Guanzhong to transform mundane scenery to endless possibilities of creation.