The paintings in this collection of vintage Chinese watercolors come from the Yangtze River Valley region of China. Each is an individual, original creation. The artist’s signature is the square red chop placed in the corner of the painting. As mid-20th Century works of art, these vintage paintings capture both an ancient tradition and a unique era in Chinese history. Most were painted in the 1960s and 1970s, a time of social upheaval and drastic change in China.
Yet these beautiful paintings still follow the traditions and customs of Chinese brush painting that dates back thousands of years. It was one of the few art forms to survive the Cultural Revolution. In each you can find the conventions of Taoist influence with strict adherence to notions of harmony and balance. Every painting is a practice in recounting the equilibrium of Yin and Yang. Whether it is people and objects, birds and flowers or mountains and water, the goal is always the same –to bring the universe into balance.
