CHINESE SCHOOL IN THE MANNER OF XU BEIHONG XU 徐悲鴻 (CHINA, 1895-1953) Les trois cormorans - The three cormorants Ink and colors on paper Mounted as a scroll / kakemono With a signature (apocryphal) on the upper left: ‘悲鴻’ With a date (apocryphal) on the upper left: Winter 1935 (‘二十四年冬’) With an artist seal (apocryphal) on the upper left With an handwritten collector label on the scroll mount attributing the painting to Xu Beihong Dimensions (the sole painting): 110 x 59 cm Notes: The son of a painter, Xu Beihong was born in 1895 in Qiting, Jiangsu. He received a traditional scholar education, including classics of Chinese literature, philosophical essays and ink wash painting. From 9 years old onwards, he started copying old master paintings. He later studied at the French Department of the Catholic University of Furen and moved to Paris, France, where he studied at the Paris Fine Arts Institute (Institut des Beaux-Arts de Paris. Upon his return to China, later in his life, he was appointed a professor at the ink wash and calligraphy research Department of the University of Beijing. In 1935, Xu Beihong went to Guilin, Guangxi, where he first got acquainted with one of his favorite subjects: cormorants. Indeed, there, he saw fishermen fishing with those birds. He then studied thoroughly those birds, their interesting shapes, wings, colors and beak etc. He drew many sketches and wrote texts about them. Hence the versions of this subject that we can find in different museums, such as the one preserved in the collection of the Crystal Museum, Taichung, Taiwan, or the one preserved at the Memorial Museum of Xu Beihong, Beijing, China. In our painting, three lively black cormorants are depicted along a lake. The first one - on the first ground - is turning its back to us and the second one - on the middle ground - is seen from its side or profile whilst the third one - in the background - is drying its plumage with its hooked beak. 中国画作，徐悲鸿风格（1895-1953） NOTE: CONDITION REPORTS AND MEASUREMENTS It is up to the bidder to satisfy themselves prior to buying as to the condition of a lot. In relation to Condition Reports, whilst we make certain observations on the lot, which are intended to be as helpful as possible, references in the condition report to damage or restoration are for guidance. The absence of such a reference does not imply that an item is free from defects or restoration, nor does a reference to particular defects imply the absence of any others. The condition report is an expression of opinion only and must not be treated as a statement of fact. Measurements and weight are approximate and the potential bidder may re-ask it to be checked when asking for a condition report.