Page 82 - 2020 December 2 Christie's Hong Kong Classical Paintings and Calligrahy

Through The Enigmatic Eyes:

Barren Tree and Birds by Bada Shanren

冷眼關情：八大山人《枯木雙禽》賞析

Relatively few of Bada Shanren’s late works in the xinsi year 八大山人辛巳年（1701）作品存世知見不多，《枯
(1701) are extant, and Barren Tree and Birds is certainly one 木雙禽》無疑是其晚年精品力作。因此自1940年代
of the most important masterpieces created during his later 開始，畫作便成為重要研究著作和出版的蒐集對
years. As such, it has been an object of academic research 象。
and publication ever since the 1940s.
八大山人運用疏簡遒勁的線條，濃淡枯濕的墨氣，
A descendant of the fallen Ming imperial family, Bada 透過一樹雙鳥簡單題材，在前朝王孫心態與禪宗思
Shanren’s glum sentiment observed in his oeuvre is often 想的相互交融下，反映出塵世的觀照與冷寂心境，
also infused with Zen (Chan) philosophy. In Barren Tree 細膩的物情有機地體現在他筆下的花鳥畫裡。此幅
and Birds he uses sparse yet swift brushstrokes, ink washes 構圖以對角形式呈現，右下一鳥立於枯木之上，畫
of various intensities, as well as a mixture of dry and wet 面處於靜止狀態，而著墨較重，於靜中取其沉穩；
applications, to craft a simple subject of a pair of birds seen 上方繪一鳥俯衝，以動態破開下方之寧靜。
here. The presentation reflects a recluse’s observation of the 上下斜對二鳥，形成繁簡動靜濃淡相映
world—he is detached, yet concerned about the organic 成趣的況味。
details which he meticulously renders. He arranges the main
elements diagonally in this composition. On the lower- 《枯木雙禽》首見於1940年東京聚樂社出
right is a bird perched on a barren tree: a quiet, static scene 版之《八大山人畫譜》，藏家乃日本名古屋
with heavy ink applications. On the top-left is a diving 人士櫻木俊一。櫻木先生於1914至1924年間受僱於
bird, ready to pierce through the serenity of the lower 上海南滿州鐵路公司。其後《枯木雙禽》分別載於
section with its speedy approach. The opposition posed by 1983年鈴木敬編的《中國繪畫綜合圖錄》及1990年
the birds, in ink tonality as well as postures, injects a little 王方宇、班宗華之《荷園主人：八大山人的生命與
humour into the work. 藝術》，實是舉足輕重的珍品。
Barren Tree and Birds was first documented in the 1940
publication Hachidai sanjin gafu (Paintings of Bada Shanren)
when it belonged to Sakuragi Shunichi, a Japanese from
Nagoya who worked in the South Manchuria Railway
Co. Ltd. in Shanghai from 1914 to 1924. It was further
published in Comprehensive Illustrated Catalog of Chinese
Paintings compiled by Kei Suzuki in 1983 and Master of the
Lotus Garden: The Life and Art of Bada Shanren (1626-1705)
by Wang Fangyu and Richard M. Barhart in 1990. A
pivotal masterpiece not to be missed.

76