The Old Fisherwoman: original oil on canvas by Jian Bai Xu (1955)

This painting is a Jian Bai Xu signature painting. It is in the genre of the honest realism of many of the impressionists, particularly Van Gogh. Indeed, it has the look of a Van Gogh. A simple fisher woman sits inside an old shed by the docks, in a small port city of China. Her face tells of her life. And because Jian Bai Xu learned that it is not beauty but truth that makes a painting more precious, she has conveyed the feelings of the life of the fisherwoman in this portrait. Catching and selling fish is not a particularly glamorous life. The sun and surf, too, take their toll on one looks. Yet she seems, not ashamed, but slightly proud, perhaps, resigned to her life but not apologetic. Although her face displays the hardships of her life, and she is plainly dressed, her silver and jade bracelets belie a life of poverty and suggest that she has achieved some modicum of wealth from all of her hard work.

This wonderful piece was done in the 1950's after Xu had spent time, in the West, exploring the techniques of Western artists and the colors of their palettes. For us, it is a true masterpiece, lifting Jian Bai Xu to the height of great impressionist artist.

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