Explore key developments in the history and culture of China, from the arts and crafts of the Song Dynasty up to the present day.
Chen Shuren was born in Guangzhou, Guangdong province. He is regarded as one of the “Three Masters of the Lingnan School”. The other two are Gao Jianfu (1879-1951) and Gao Qifeng (1889-1933). The three all studied painting under Ju Lian (1828-1904) in Guangzhou and then in Japan. Ju Lian’s careful, realistic, brightly coloured style had a visible impact on his students’ works. This painting is in xieyi style, depicting lychees with a cicada. Lychees are symbolic of summer fruit, particularly in the Guangzhou area, and were a popular topic for Lingnan School artists. In this composition the main lychee is arranged at the top of the painting with a branch spreading to the left corner. The signature and inscription can be seen at the lower right. A cicada resting on a lychee sums up the summer atmosphere of summer in the south.
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Objects may have since been removed or replaced from a gallery. Click into an individual object record to confirm whether or not an object is currently on display. Our object location data is usually updated on a monthly basis, so contact the Jameel Study Centre if you are planning to visit the museum to see a particular Eastern Art object.
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