Peach Blossom
Ni Yide
1960s
- YEAR:1960s
- MEDIUM:Oil on canvas
- DIMENSIONS:54 × 65 cm
Introduction
Ni Yide, a leading figure and co-founder of the Storm Society (Juelanshe)—one of China’s earliest modern art groups—was an established modern Chinese oil painter. After returning from his studies in Japan in 1928, he dedicated himself to art education, as well as the study of art theory and painting techniques. Peach Blossom vividly embodies the fusion of artistic purity, which Ni championed, with the nationalization of oil painting. The bold, simplified colour blocks of the architecture and the weighty beauty created by thick lines reflect the artist’s inheritance of Cubist and Fauvist influences. In the foreground, the vibrant peach blossoms stand out sharply against the trees in the middle and background. At the same time, their interplay of solidity and translucence against the relatively straight architectural forms evokes the spirit of traditional Chinese jiehua (ruled-line painting). With fluid and varied lines, Ni balances realism and freehand expression, exemplifying his pursuit and accomplishment in fusing Chinese and Western art traditions.
