SANYU: His Life and Complete Works in Oil

An angled, high-view shot of the thick hardcover art book SANYU: His Life and Complete Works in Oil, Volume Two by Rita Wong. The book rests on a white background. Its cover features a stylized white line drawing of two leopards against a heavily textured, black-painted backdrop. The title and spine are in a contrasting salmon pink.

The back of a salmon-colored book featuring a black-and-white photograph of an artist in his studio. The man, wearing glasses, stands amidst framed paintings, holding a small wooden folding rack. A barcode and publisher information are printed below the photograph.

An open hardcover art book is laid flat, showing a two-page spread on a white surface. The left page displays a painting of white chrysanthemums in a vase against a textured pink background. The right page features a stylized painting of two standing female nudes with pale pink skin and dark hair.

An open art book displays two paintings on a two-page spread. The left page shows a still life with a fruit bowl, basket, and cup on a table. The right page features a simple painting of a pink cat lying on its back, playing with a butterfly against a white background. Each artwork is accompanied by a caption.

An open art book displays two paintings on a two-page spread. On the left is a still life of yellow chrysanthemums in a yellow vase against a dark background. On the right is a modern painting of an abstract orange reclining figure with three stylized faces on a black background.

A product shot of two hardcover art books titled SANYU: His Life and Complete Works in Oil by Rita Wong, standing upright against a white background. Volume One, on the right, has a black-and-white photo of the artist in his studio. Volume Two, on the left, features a black-and-white abstract painting and has a rust-colored spine.

A pair of large, hardcover books titled SANYU His Life and Complete Works in Oil by Rita Wong, stacked at an angle on a white background. The cover of the top book, Volume One, is visible, showing a black-and-white photograph of the artist Sanyu in his studio, looking at a painting of flowers.

The cover of the book SANYU, His Life and Complete Works in Oil, Volume Two by Rita Wong. The cover is split in two, with the left side featuring a Sanyu painting of a nude woman with black hair lying on her stomach on a white sheet illustrated with animals. The right side lists the book's title and author on a plain white background.

A two-page spread from an art book. The left page shows a black-and-white photograph of a smiling Asian artist in his studio, surrounded by his paintings. On the wall hangs a large painting of stylized animals. In the foreground, more framed works are stacked, one featuring a potted plant. The right page is the table of contents for Volume Two, detailing the catalogue raisonné and various art collections.

An art book spread featuring two paintings in a naive style. On the left is a still life of white roses with dark blue leaves in a red pot. On the right is a portrait of a seated woman wearing a speckled dark blue dress with large, bare pink legs and black shoes.

An art book spread displaying two minimalist paintings. On the left, a stylized pink nude figure with black hair reclines on a grey background. On the right, a stylized pink horse-like figure with a black mane is shown against a cream background.

A two-page spread from an art book. On the left is a painting of large, textured pink flowers with bold, black leaves in a slender vase against a cream background. The right page features a section title and descriptive text in English, Chinese, and French about the Collection of Johan Franco.

A two-page spread from an art book displaying two paintings. On the left, a dark green, fan-like arrangement of gladioli sits in a short black vase on a red table against a white background. On the right, a tall, patterned black vase holds three dark lotus flowers and a leaf, positioned in front of a window with light-colored curtains.

A page from a book displaying a painting of goldfish. The artwork shows a tall, cylindrical glass jar containing several small fish in red, white, and black. The jar rests on a white surface with black patterns against a textured orange background.

A page from a book displaying two square, still-life paintings side-by-side. The left painting shows pink and cream arum lilies in a yellow vase against a light, textured background. The right painting shows white chrysanthemums with green leaves in a blue and white patterned pot against a dark background. Both artworks have a bold, graphic style with thick, dark outlines.

A two-page spread from an art catalogue, pages 488 and 489, showcasing six modernist paintings of flowers. Each painting features stylized chrysanthemums or other plants in a pot or vase against a solid-colored background. Below each artwork, there is detailed text in English, French, and Chinese, listing information such as the title, provenance, and exhibition history.

SANYU: His Life and Complete Works in Oil

Volume Two: Catalogue Raisonné

€ 128.00

VAT included. Shipping costs will be calculated at checkout

Author: Rita Wong

English

April 2024, 600 Pages

Hardcover with American Dust Jacket

284mm x 340mm

ISBN: 978-3-7757-5680-8

HATJE CANTZ VERLAG
Mommsenstr. 27
10629 Berlin
Germany
E-Mail: contact@hatjecantz.de

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In 1921, Sanyu was among many Chinese artists who left his homeland to travel abroad to learn foreign ways. In Paris he enrolled at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière, where he delved into the world of sketching nudes from live models. Drawing on his training in Chinese calligraphy, his ink drawings are characterized by a unique curvilinear certainty and fluidity. He started to paint in oil in 1929, under the direction of author and art collector Henri-Pierre Roché. In contrast to his drawing, here he preferred to reference images or memories from his youth and his rich cultural heritage. After World War II. he traveled to New York, where he became roommates and close friends with the Swiss photographer Robert Frank, and became influenced by the New York School. While he did not embrace abstraction, he borrowed elements that are evident in a diversified color palette. Sanyu returned to Paris in 1950, where his life was characterized by hopeful but false starts and debilitating failures. This catalogue raisonné is the first publication that includes all of his known oil paintings to date.