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Huge,Original Han Meilin 韩美林 Chinese Painting of Bull (Ox), With Certificate

Posted By: B. Cha
Posted Date: Oct 07, 2015 (02:12 AM)

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I am looking to sell this piece.

This original ink on paper piece is accompanied with the certificate of authenticity (two pieces: one is a small booklet and one is a laminated notarized certificate, see images) with matching artist's seal chop stamp on both the painting and the certificate for authentication. The painting is matted in beautiful pearl-white embroidered silk (not pictured). Minor wear and staining, study images for details. Unframed. Painting size: 26.5 x 53.25 inches (67 x 135 cm)

Han Meilin is arguably most famous for his Ox Paintings and Sculptures. In 1993 he published the art book ‘ A Collection of Iron-Pen Line Drawing of Han Mei Lin – One Hundred Bulls '. (Shandong Fine Arts Publishing House, 1993). See image for reference to Han's style of bull ox paintings. The book is included in the sale of this painting. It does not contain an image of this particular bull, but provides reference to Han’s style and also shows how this may be his best bull of all.

This was part of a limited original zodiac series by Han Meilin in 2011 and, to our knowledge, no copies were made. To date, only one piece (the Horse) has been offered by Christie's in Hong Kong last year for $152,815 USD :

SALE 3365 — FINE CHINESE MODERN PAINTINGS - LOT 1266

24 - 25 November 2014
Han Meilin (Han Mei Lin, 韩美林 ) is without question the most accomplished artist in Post-Imperial China. On a global stage, he is the single most famous Chinese artist in the world. His accomplishments match, or outmatch, any Imperial artist in history. He is referred to as the Picasso of the East by collectors.

Born in 1936 in Jinan, Shandong; his prolific career began in 1955 at the Central Academy of Arts & Design, graduating in 1960.

Some of his impressive accomplishments include designing the Phoenix Logo for Air China as well as dozens of logos for important companies; the 5 Dragon Clock Tower for the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics; the famous Fuwa doll mascots for the 2008 Beijing Olympics as well as the symbols that represented each sport; the 1983 National Stamp for the Year of the Pig, as well as the Panda Stamp in 1985. He has also designed Central Monuments for some of China’s major cities, such as The 6 Tigers of Dalian – the marble sculpture is the largest animal sculpture in China, weighing over 2000 tons. The giant Sacred Bull of Shekou is located in the center of the city's classical garden and can be seen from any high rise building.

With a masterful and often whimsical style, he blends ancient with contemporary.

His career was almost cut short in the 1960s during the Cultural Revolution when the ligaments in his thumbs were cut and he lost use of his thumbs until a later surgery. The 1980 interview explains:

It was 1968; China was in the grip of the Cultural Revolution. Vigilantes caught artist Han Meilin in the streets of his village in Anhui province and beat him to the pavement. Suddenly, a tiny dog, a Shih Tzu, darted out and licked Han's battered face—until a club smashed the animal's back. Han was unconscious by the time he was taken away to prison, but the next morning his first thoughts ran to the Shih Tzu. From now on, he vowed, his art would be devoted to animals. "I wanted to paint beautiful things," Han, 44, recalls through an interpreter, "things that won't hurt anybody."

An artist in shackles, he would sketch with chopsticks upon his prison trousers, until in 1972 he was released to decorate teapots in a factory – where his coworkers covered for him while he created his own designs. His art caught the eye of curators in the Peking (Beijing) National Gallery and Han was given a one-man-show in 1979. He later became the first Chinese artist to have a one-man-show outside of his own country in the USA in 1980. On October 1, 1980 the City of Manhattan declared it Han Meilin Day. He was also made an honorary citizen of San Diego, where he fell in love with the animals at the Zoo.

His travels brought contemporary inspiration back home with him which he applied to his Chinese roots. He goes on to explain:

"The flower of my art is rooted in Chinese soil," declares Han, "but it is nurtured by rain, sunshine and dew from other countries." A teacher showed him Picasso and Matisse, and they influenced his work. He likes to paint while listening to Beethoven, Verdi, Tchaikovsky and Debussy.

For the current state of the art culture in China, Han Meilin is the living embodiment of what the spirit of art means to not only the Chinese, but to all mankind– he has survived historical strife, revolution, imprisonment, adversity, and man’s worst, only to become more beautiful and appreciated because of it. You can see why the bull is one of his favorite subjects – because he has charged through the challenges of life with admirable strength and courage.

Please ask any questions before purchasing. I can take as many additional photos as you wish. I am willing to settle on a lower price outside of eBay to avoid fees if you prefer. Buyers with less than 50 reviews or 100% feedback will be declined.

This is a masterpiece made by Living National Treasure in his elder years.







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