Xu Beihong’s Double Magpies and Autumn Flowers Painting Axis

[Xu Beihong’s Painting Axis of Double Magpies in Autumn]

The Painting Axis of Double Magpies in Autumn, in modern times, is painted by Xu Beihong, in paper, with colors, 92.1 centimeters vertically and 34.3 centimeters horizontally
Self title: “In the autumn of the thirty first year, I wrote with a sad Hong.” With the seal of “sad Hong”, Zhu Wenfang stamped it. “Han Huai Zhun Zhu Wen oval seal,” Yu Qu Zhai Zhu Bai Wen Fang seal, and “Wu Pu Hang Seal” Bai Wen Fang seal
The 31st year refers to the 31st year of the Republic of China (1942), when Xu Beihong was 47 years old
There are two magpies on the “S” shaped thick maple trunk in the picture, one above and one below. It seems that they are whispering, adding warmth to the bleak autumn day and romance to the natural landscape. The strokes of the tree trunk in the picture are vigorous and powerful, rich in square folds, stutters, and changes in lifting and pressing, showing the unique texture of the trunk. The leaves are vivid in freehand brushwork, outlined with a light ink center, and then filled with various colors such as orange, yellow, green, and cyan. The rich hues adorn the beautiful artistic conception of autumn
This picture is on Duyun leather paper. This kind of leather paper was produced in Duyun, Guizhou Province. At that time, it was a kind of high-quality and inexpensive traditional Chinese painting paper. Its light yellow color made the picture appear ancient and rustic. Its rough surface not only absorbs water but also does not immerse it, facilitating the expression of pen and ink. During the period of material scarcity during the War of Resistance Against Japan, Xu Beihong was very fond of using this kind of leather paper between raw and cooked for painting.