Xu Beihong Sunflower and Rooster Figure Axis

[Xu Beihong’s Sunflower and Rooster Painting Axis]

The Sunflower and Rooster Painting Axis, modern and contemporary, painted by Xu Beihong, paper based, colored, 139.2 centimeters vertically and 47.8 centimeters horizontally
Self question: “In the twenty eighth year of spring, I mourn for the rainbow.” With the seal of “The Prince of the East China Sea” in white, I write a rectangular seal
The twenty eighth year refers to the twenty eighth year of the Republic of China (1939), when Xu Beihong was 44 years old
The picture depicts a rooster walking on its feet in the lower part of the painting, with two tall and robust sunflowers as the background. Sunflowers reflect the sun against the wind. The painter first outlined the outer contour of the leaves in center light ink, and then colored them in layers of dark green, light ochre, brown, and cyan without any brush marks, accurately displaying the natural appearance of the leaves, reflecting Xu Beihong’s keen observation and exquisite painting skills in expressing details
In animal themes, Xu Beihong is very fond of painting roosters with various postures. They either stand upright with their heads held high, have an extraordinary demeanor, or stand tall, announce dawn in the morning, or enjoy the leisurely scene depicted in this picture. Among them, there are both paintings with profound ideological connotations and embodying Xu Beihong’s noble character, as well as works of resistance that call for the awakening of the people. This painting focuses on aesthetic interest, focusing on the expression of rural customs.