Qian gu yuan (Wish across the ages)
1945
Lü Fengzi is considered a key figure in the revival of Chinese ink painting during the 1920s and 1930s, a period when it was more fashionable for Chinese artists to study oil painting abroad. As an art educator (and principal of the National College of Art in Nanjing), Lü wrote numerous treatises on the significance of traditional Chinese painting. He also developed innovative compositions and brushwork that refreshed the traditional medium of Chinese brush and ink, demonstrating through his own work the relevance of China's artistic heritage.
According to his daughter, Lü took many orphans under his wing, and taught them to paint. To support his school and students, he often painted pictures of luohan (monks) for well-to-do patrons, in return for monetary donations to the school. His luohan paintings were popular, not least because luohan were associated with an altruistic ideal, and the subject suggested compassion towards fellow human beings.
Qian gu yuan (Wish across the ages) is one of the finest examples of Lü’s works. It showcases his distinct brushwork and innovation in creating a new genre based on China's social situation in the early-twentieth century. Painted two days after the end of WWII, it is a heartfelt wish for peace, wherein the prayers of the monks and nuns depicted seem to have been answered. Lü dedicated this painting to his son-in-law, Michael Sun, who left China for Taiwan in 1948.
Ink and color on paper
Overall: 30 3/4" x 78 1/4"
Image: 25" x 43 1/4"
33" x 78 1/4" (with knobs)
Gift of Michael Sun and Lu Wujiu
2012.18
Provenance: The artist; gift from the artist to his daughter, Lu Wujiu, and his son-in-law, Michael Sun, San Francisco, California
Photo: Elizabeth Mann
