WANG FANGYU (1913-1997)
Phoenix
Hanging scroll, ink on paper
102.5 x 33 cm. (40 ³⁄₈ x 13 in.)
With two seals of the artist

NOTE:
The phoenix is a mythical bird most often seen in Chinese art. According to the etymology of the Chinese characters fenghuang(鳳凰), the phoenix is the “emperor of all birds.” By tradition, the phoenix has the head of a pheasant, the body of a mandarin duck, the tail of a peacock, the legs of a crane, the mouth of a parrot, and the wings of a swallow. A popular subject in paintings and decorative motifs, the phoenix is always beautifully adorned in a regal manner befitting of its status. Here the artist captures the majesty of this mythical bird with large commanding strokes.