Paris – To mark the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the death of the Chinese-French Painter, Sanyu (1901-1966), Artcurial will auction off an exceptional collection of 45 works by the artist on 6th December 2016. The brush drawings come from the personal collection belonging to Jean-Claude Riedel, the famous art dealer and the person who truly discovered the artist in the 1970s. Through this auction, he pays tribute to Sanyu whom he considers to be the main Modernist Chinese calligrapher. This is the largest collection of works on paper by Sanyu.

This collection of China Ink and watercolours which focuses on feminine nudes, illustrates the exceptional virtuosity of the artist. Jean-Claude Riedel explains how the “Chinese prudishness is shown through pure drawings like virginity with a black frame around.”

“Canvas works by Sanyu are hard to find today and collectors are now seeking works on paper. The Jean-Claude Riedel collection is exceptional. All the works are included in the third version of the artist’s catalogue raisonné regarding his drawings and paper works. This auction will have a positive influence on the value of Sanyu’s work.”

Bruno Jaubert, Director
Impressionist & Modern, Artcurial
Sanyu, one of the first Chinese Artists to come to France
Sanyu was born in 1901 in the Sichuan province where his family owned one of the largest silk-weaving mills. Recognizing his interest and talent in art, his family encouraged his artistic endeavours and their wealth enabled Sanyu to have calligraphy lessons with the Sichuan calligrapher Zhao Xi. He also painted alongside his father. After studies in Shanghai, Sanyu discovered Japan on a trip in 1919 and later France where he decided to settle. From 1923, he set up base in the Montparnasse area and frequented avant-garde artists, members of the Ecole de Paris. He went to the Grande Chaumière where he perfected his talents. Sanyu was amongst the first generation of Chinese artists who came to France and he immersed himself in the French culture and unlike his compatriots Lin Fengmian ou Xu Beihong, he chose to take residence in Paris.

During his training, Sanyu showed particular interest in depicting nudity. He began by painting nudes on canvas from 1929. The most productive time was between 1930 and 1940 as the artist was liberated from financial woes and he painted with a new enthusiasm. Highlights from the auction of 6th December include, an ink on paper, Femme assise de profil dessinant made in 1930 (estimation : 8 000 – 10 000 € / 8 800 – 11 000 $) and also Nu allongé (estimation : 10 000 – 15 000 € / 11 000 – 16 500 $). Coloured drawings will also be on sale with watercolour and ink on paper works such as Femme au chapeau bleu and the Portrait d’une femme à la blouse blanche, estimated at 20 000 – 30 000 € / 22 000 – 33 000 $.

Posthumous recognition
Throughout his artistic career, Sanyu was supported by many professionals. Until the 1950s the collector and art dealer, Henri-Pierre Roche who was also a friend of Brancusi and Marcel Duchamp supported Sanyu. When Sanyu died in 1966, only a handful of Parisian collectors knew of him. From the mid 1960s, Jean-Claude Riedel, then a young art dealer of 23 years old, developed a true passion for Sanyu. For over forty years he exhibited the artist’s work in his Parisian gallery on Guénégaud street.

The art historian Rita Wong who was responsible for the three catalogues “raisonnés” dedicated to Sanyu published from 2001, said in 2011 : “Jean-Claude Riedel’s involvement in raising Sanyu’s posthumous profile, cannot be stressed enough. From the 257 paintings listed in the first volume of the catalogue, over half passed through his hands.”

Since the end of the 1990s, Sanyu’s reputation in China and in South East Asia continues to develop. Today, several of his canvas paintings are worth over 10 million dollars on the Asian market. Works on paper by the artist recently reached between50 000 et 150 000 € at an auction in Hong Kong, reaching three and sometimes four times the estimation, confirming his new market value.