LOT 1639-1650
PROPERTY FROM THE COLLECTION OF WU BALING

WU ZISHEN (1894-1972)
Bamboo and Rock
Scroll, mounted and framed, ink on paper
132 x 32.8 cm. (52 x 12 7/8 in.)
Inscribed with a poem and signed, with two seals of the artist
Dated tenth month,gengyinyear (1950)
Dedicated to Baling

Specialist Note:
Wu Baling (1904-1976) was born in Nanhai, Guangdong. The founder of the Yung Sheh Hiking Club, he joined the Overseas Chinese Daily News in 1936 and was promoted to Chief Editor of the Hong Kong News section. During his tenure, he invited artists to inscribe on the covers of his publications, and befriended many Hong Kong artists, including Zhou Qianqiu (1910-2006), Zhou’s teacher Zhao Shao’ang (1905-1998) and others. Wu often joined their meetings and received many works from them.

Wu Zishen was an artist based in Shanghai, known to be one member of “Three Wu’s, One Feng” of Shanghai artists (The others include Wu Hufan, Wu Zheng, and Feng Chaoran). Wu was known for his landscapes and also ink bamboo, which he styles after famous ink bamboo artist of the Song Dynasty, Wen Tong (1019-1079). In the 1950s, Wu Zishen moved to Hong Kong and lived there for a number of years before later moving to Indonesia. During his stay in Hong Kong, like most artist who comes to Hong Kong, he befriended Wu Baling and presented paintings as gifts to Wu Baling.