Li Kuchan (1899- 1983), a native of Gaotang, Shandong Province, is a famous Englishman. I grew up in a poor family and studied painting under the influence of folk painters. 19 19 joined the "work-study program" in the middle school attached to Peking University, and studied sketch and western painting with Xu Beihong in the "Amateur Painting Research Association". After that, he studied in the Chinese Department of Peking University and the Western Painting Department of Beijing National Academy of Arts. During this period, I often pull rickshaws at night for a living. To this end, classmate Lin gave him a name called "bitter Zen" (bitter, that is, bitter experience; Zen, formerly known as freehand brushwork for Zen calligraphy and painting). 1923, Master Qi Baishi was not too poor, but was selected on the basis of merit and accepted Li Kuchan as his confidant. Some people predict that "if Britain does not enjoy fame in the future, there will be no ghosts and gods in the world".
After studying art, Li Kuchan became an outstanding lady when he was 30 years old and taught in art schools and Xinhua schools. After the founding of New China, he was a researcher at the Institute of National Fine Arts affiliated to the Central Academy of Fine Arts and an academician of China Painting Academy. The Shandong provincial government also built the "Li Kuchan Memorial Hall" for him.
Li Kuchan is good at freehand brushwork of flowers and birds, and his paintings advocate calligraphy. His works inherit the tradition of painting and combine Chinese and western techniques in one furnace. Infiltrating the ancient law, he can find his own way and stand on his own feet. Often take pine, bamboo, plum, orchid, chrysanthemum, stone, lotus, fish, chicken, eagle and so on. As a theme, it has a unique style of bold, magnificent and vivid brushwork, which has established a new style of freehand flower-and-bird painting, and the huge long screen has attracted more attention from the world. Works handed down from ancient times include Hesheng, Eagle, Zhu Lan, Furong, Autumn Flavor and so on. His calligraphy is good at cursive script, simple, vigorous and elegant, which complements his paintings.
There are not many works in Li Kuchan. Entering the overseas auction market in the late 1980s, the price is not low. 1990, his 24 volumes of flower and bird picture books (14* 19.5cm) were sold at Christie's auction house for154,000 yuan, and at Beijing auction market for 1993. In recent years, his works have greatly declined. His Seahawk (96*44cm) was sold at Christie's auction in 1996 for 6.5438+0.38 million yuan. His Hero Map (65* 124cm) was sold at Guangzhou Guardian auction for 38,500 yuan. His Nai Meng Tu (86*46cm) was sold at' 97 Rongbao Auction for 1.2 1 1,000 yuan. His "Infinite Life Buddha" (estimated at1.5000 to1.8000) was sold at' 98 China Guardian auction for only RMB 5500. Judging from the market performance of Li Kuchan, there is a downward trend step by step, and the market outlook is worthy of attention. (This article is mainly based on Mr. Wu's book "Famous Calligraphy and Painting Market")
Attachment: Transaction price of some works of Li Kuchan:
Time (year)
auction room
works
Size (cm) Texture Form
cheap
1993 Christie's Lotus Root
94.6*44.7 Paper color 32000 HKD 1993 Yong Cheng Bamboo Bird.
59*99 Paper color 09900 HK dollars 1993 Yong Cheng filial piety map
69*69 paper color 1.65438+ HK$ 00000 1994 Sotheby's is more fun than the wild pond.
136*34 paper ink 43700 hong kong dollars 1994 Sotheby's eagle
136*68 Paper color 4 14000 Hong Kong dollars 1994 Guarding Red Lotus
66* 132 Paper color 93500 RMB 1995 Hanhai is heroic.
160* 144.5 paper color 132000 RMB 1995 Hanhaihua (four screens)
The color of each piece of paper is 137.5*34.5 RMB 1996 Christie's facing the sea.
96*44 Paper Color 13800 HKD 1997 Guarding Autumn Color
69.5*46 Paper color 30800 RMB 1997 Guangzhou Guardian Qunyingtu
65* 124 Paper color 38500 RMB 1997 Guangzhou Guarding Rain and Rain
67*69 Paper color 16500 RMB 1997 Rongbao Naimeng map
86*46 paper color 1.265438+ 1997 Rongbao red plum narcissus map
87*47 Paper color 24200 RMB 1998 Guarding the Infinite Life Buddha
65*64.5 Paper color 5500 yuan.