ZHAO SHAO'ANG (1905-1998)

This painting previously belonged to the Yang Ang Tang Collection. The owner of Yang Ang Tang admired Zhao Shao’ang’s art and studied under him. Most paintings in this collection were acquired directly from the artist.
White Camellia demonstrates Zhao’s unique method of combining traditional Chinese painting techniques with Western realism. The artist once sketched this subject matter and later recreated the composition on a six-foot paper. The branches are vigorous and powerful, and the flowers and leaves are slightly curled but full of tension. The blooming flower is full of vitality, and the emerald praying mantis at the upper right corner adds a touch of dynamism to the painting. The entire composition is dense at the top and sparse at the bottom. To maintain balance, Zhao placed his inscription at the bottom right. The meticulous cursive script complements the slender branches and shows the ingenuity of the artist.