Page 178 - Bonhams FINE CHINESE ART London November 2 2021

336
MANNER OF LI KERAN (1907-1989)
Buffalo and Boy
Ink on paper, signed, one seal of the artist, framed and glazed.
70cm (27 1/2in) x 41cm (16 1/8in).

£3,000 - 5,000
CNY27,000 - 45,000

李可染（款） 童子牧牛圖 紙本設色 鏡框裝裱

Provenance: Max Morris (1910-2017), acquired in China in 1957,
and thence by descent

Published and Exhibited: Herbert Art Gallery and Museum, Modern
Chinese Paintings from the Hafkin and Other Collections, Coventry,
11 July - 9 August 1964, no.42.

來源：Max Morris（1910-2017）舊藏，於1957年購自中國，並由後
人保存迄今

展覽著錄：赫伯特藝術博物館，《Modern Chinese Paintings from the
Hafkin and Other Collections》，考文垂，1964年7月11日-8月9日，
編號42

Li Keran painted the subject of a herd boy and buffalo on countless
occasions over the course of his long career, becoming a signature
subject in his oeuvre. On the surface, the depiction of water buffalo or
oxen with a herd boy companion appears as a benign depiction of the
336 rural lifestyle. However, the subject is tied to the cultural milieu of 20th
century China, as the artist’s depiction is an implicit reference to Lu
Xun’s (1881-1936) writings in the 1930’s when he compares himself to
a buffalo: ‘willingly I become a buffalo for the sake of the children’ (俯
首甘為孺子牛), as well as Guo Moruo’s (1892-1978) essay ‘In Praise
of Water Buffalo’ (水牛贊), where Guo suggests that the water buffalo
should be embraced as a national emblem of strength and humble, yet
hard work. See a related painting by Li Keran of a water buffalo and
boy, illustrated by S.Little and J.M.L.Barrett, New Songs on Ancient
Tunes: 19th-20th Century Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy from the
Richard Fabian Collection, Honolulu, 2007, pp.592-593.

337 Y
ATTRIBUTED TO WANG TINGYUAN (1716-?)
Scholar in the Mountains
Hanging scroll, ink and colour on silk, calligraphic inscription, with
signature and two seals of the artist, dated to the Guiwei year
(corresponding to 1763), with hardwood rollers.
153cm (60 1/4in) long.

£3,000 - 5,000
CNY27,000 - 45,000

王廷元（款） 春山行旅圖 絹本設色 立軸裝裱

Provenance: an English private collection

來源：英國私人收藏

Little is known about Wang Tingyuan (1716-?), zi Zanming, except that
he was active around Suzhou, was good at painting landscapes in the
classical style, and died prematurely.

337
For details of the charges payable in addition to the final Hammer Price of each Lot
176 | BONHAMS please refer to paragraphs 7 & 8 of the Notice to Bidders at the back of the catalogue.