'ADMIRING THE WATERFALL' FU BAOSHI, DATED 1963 China. Black ink and watercolors on paper. Depicting a scholar with a cane standing below a monumental waterfall, his head raised in awe towards the cliff. Silk brocade frame and mounted as a hanging scroll.

Expert's note: Fu Baoshi reached his first artistic peak during his stay in Chongqing. Inspired by the geographical eccentricity of the location, he painted a series of landscapes and waterfalls which later became known as the “Landscapes of Jingangpo” - the mountain suburb of his residence. During his later years, he kept painting variations of these landscapes, including the present work, further improving the emotional density of the scenes. As Fu recalled, “There is a myriad of breath-taking scenery surrounding Jingangpo. Everywhere you look, fenben [artist's sketch books and preparatory drawings] exist in abundance. Those who live in the Southeast [Chongqing is located in the Southwest] cannot and dare not embrace this realm made possible only by the local misty atmosphere and the majestic peaks.”
The composition of the present work emphasizes grandeur and monumentality. Technically, Fu Baoshi mostly eschews outlines and utilizes dappling of the brush and ink washes. In spite of the first impression, each element is rendered meticulously and with distinctive purpose. The distant rocks with atmospheric effect on the very top of the work contrast with the near and clear ones on the bottom. The seeming disorder of the falling waters, upon closer examination, is consisted of logically cascading waterflows seeking ways between protruding rock spires. A giant tree is rising above the cliff on the left. Near the bottom stands a lofty scholar, halting to admire the wonders of nature that take his breath away. Fu Baoshi uses flesh color to accent the head of the minuscule figure and razor sharp minuscule brushstrokes for the staff and the outlines of the robe, which do not shy a tenfold magnifying, adding vitality and a point of entry for the viewers to experience this pictorial world vicariously. The minuscule figure further highlights the colossal towering peaks and waterfalls.

Fu Baoshi's family later reminisced about their time there: “Jingangpo, where we lived, was a typical mountain district of Sichuan province. Villages are scattered in layers of mountains and hills, where streams, bamboo groves, thickets, and forests are ubiquitous. And in the mountains there are the secluded ancient temples. In the summer, fog and mist frequently permeates the air, causing one to lose one's direction. However, this type of scenery was beloved by father [Fu Baoshi] the most.” The present work, in every way, exemplifies the finest of Fu Baoshi's waterfalls.

Inscriptions: Upper right 'Fu Baoshi in Nanjing, May 1963', one seal 'Baoshi zhi yin'. Lower left, one collector's seal 'Yang Qilin suocang shuhua'.

Provenance: From the collection of Yang Qilin, Singapore. Collector's seal 'Yang Qilin suocang shuhua' to lower left of painting. Thence by descent to the auction market, a noted private collector acquired from the above. Yang Qilin (1917-1998), was born in Chao'an, Guangdong Province, and later lived in Singapore. During his lifetime he collected more than 1,000 calligraphies and paintings, among them many highly important works. Together with Huang Manshi, Liu Zuochu and Chen Chuchu, he was known as the "Four Great Collectors of Paintings and Calligraphy in Singapore".
Condition: Excellent condition with minor wear and traces of age, and few small creases to the mounting.

Dimensions: Image size 51.5 x 28.5 cm, Size incl. mounting 201.5 x 46.7 cm

The finely polished hardwood scroll handles are probably carved from ebony.

Fu Baoshi (1904-1965) was a Chinese painter from Xinyu, Jiangxi Province. Credited with revolutionizing Chinese ink painting, Fu is perhaps the most original figure painter and landscapist of China's modern period, and one of the most important artists of the 20th century overall. In 1933, Fu went to Japan to study the History of Oriental Art at the Tokyo School of Fine Arts. After returning to China, he taught in the Art Department of Central University (today Nanjing University). At this time, Fu developed a new style, smoothly incorporating foreign ideas and techniques, and began creating boldly individualistic yet sometimes strongly nationalistic work. He also sought to revive early schools of realist depiction that made greater use of color and ink wash. His most important and acclaimed works of landscape painting employed skillful use of inking methods, such as washing, rubbing or dotting, creating a distinct style that encompasses a sheerly enormous range of varieties, but all within strict traditional rules. His detailed paintings of miniature figures remain unmatched to this day, due to his remarkably delicate and thus inimitable brushstrokes.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Sotheby's Hong Kong, 1 October 2018, lot 1319
Price: HKD 3,240,000 or approx. EUR 438,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: Fu Baoshi, Expedition to the Waterfall
Expert remark: Note the size (96.5 x 37 cm)

Auction result comparison:
Type: Closely related
Auction: Christie's Hong Kong, 8 July 2020, lot 1074
Price: HKD 812,500 or approx. EUR 104,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: Fu Baoshi (1904-1965), Viewing Waterfall
Expert remark: Note the size (69 x 33 cm)


傅抱石款《觀瀑圖》，1963年
中國，紙本設色，掛軸。散鋒皴擦水口的山石，透過其佈局襯托出流水的質感和動勢，構圖滿密，瀑布飛泉依山勢曲折而下，水勢湍急。一人立于石台之上，沉浸在震耳欲聾的水聲中，暢然忘返。

專家注釋：傅抱石在重慶期間達到了他的第一個藝術高峰。他的山水畫因為受到奇茂多霧氣的巴山蜀水以及獨特的地形的影響，愈加蒼莽淋漓。上世紀40年代的五六年間，傅抱石具有強烈個人風格的藝術風貌形成了，這就是他頗為藏家看重的“金剛風韻”。傅抱石回憶道：「以金剛坡為中心周圍數十里，確是好景說不盡。一草一木，一丘一壑，隨處都是畫人的粉本。煙籠霧鎖，蒼茫雄奇，這境界是沉湎於東南的人胸中所沒有，所不敢有的。」
彼時傅抱石開創的“散鋒筆法”即“抱石皴”已然獨具風格，與傳統中國書畫中的“側鋒“與“中鋒”鼎足而三。是圖純以散鋒寫就，復加水墨及淺絳敷染，濃淡枯濕之間妙造天然，氣韻瀟灑靈動。寥寥數筆勾一老者，正踽踽獨立。最令人神往的是這幅山間霧氣瀰漫處山石之上，高處觀瀑，極得點睛之妙。

據傅抱石後人憶述：「當時我們所住的金剛坡是個典型的四川山區，層層山巒圍繞著疏疏落落的村舍，到處是溪流、竹林和樹叢，還有藏在深山里的幽靜的古寺。到了夏季，常常是煙霧瀰漫，不辨東西，而這種迷茫的景色，正是父親所最為欣賞的。」此幅作品，正是畫家筆下典型的“金剛坡山水”佳作。

款識：一九六三年五月傅抱石南京並記
鈴印：抱石之印；楊啓霖所藏書畫

來源：新加坡楊啓霖收藏。畫面左下角可見收藏印鑒，直至進入拍賣；一位知名收藏家拍賣得來。楊啓霖 (1917-1998) 出生於廣東省潮安，後移民新加坡。在他的一生中，他收集了1000多件書畫，其中包括許多非常重要的作品。與黃曼士、劉作籌、陳之初並稱為“新加坡四大書畫收藏家”。
品相：狀況極佳，輕微磨損，有歲月痕跡，輕微小摺痕。

尺寸：畫面51.5 x 28.5 厘米，總201.5 x 46.7 厘米

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：香港蘇富比，2018年10月1日，lot 1319
價格：HKD 3,240,000（相當於今日EUR 438,500）
描述：傅抱石《天池飛瀑》，一九六三年作
專家評論：請注意尺寸(96.5 x 37 厘米) 。

拍賣結果比較：
形制：非常相近
拍賣：香港佳士得，2020年7月8日，lo t1074
價格：HKD 812,500（相當於今日EUR 104,500）
描述：傅抱石《觀瀑圖》
專家評論：請注意尺寸(69 x 33 厘米)