ZHANG DAQIAN (1899-1983)

Unassuming in appearance but possessing a sweet fragrance, the orchid is regarded as a symbol of virtue, humility and modesty, qualities that a cultivated gentleman should have. In this work, Zhang's single, confident brushstrokes express both the firmness and flexibility of the leaves, the elegance of the simplicity of the orchid, created by contrasting an interplay between soft and angular strokes.