Early Spring Landscape

Wang Jiqian received classical Chinese education in his hometown of Suzhou and later studied with the famous artist Wu Hufan (1894–1968). Through Wu, Wang gained access to the renowned art collection of Pang Yuanji (1864–1949). With first-hand examination of masterpiece works, Wang became not only a successful painter but a top connoisseur of classical Chinese paintings. After relocating to the United States in 1949, Wang became fascinated with modernist art movements and explored innovative abstract forms deriving from calligraphic brushwork. Wang was also a successful art dealer based in New York City, helping large collectors such as Avery Brundage enrich their Chinese painting collections.

This work was painted in 1969 when Wang was experimenting with new techniques of applying ink to paper to create landscapes in a semi-abstract, modern look. The grand view features mist-obscured mountains and valleys in the foreground and background. Traces reveal that Wang crumpled some areas of the paper before he applied ink to pursue chance effects. The artist also manipulates ink washes to create floating clouds and an atmospheric look, applying dots and strokes to suggest the foliage and rock textures.