Li Kuan, “Lily Pot”, c.1955

Li Kuan (fl.1950s—?)

“Lily Pot” (aka “Le Pot de Lis”), c.1955, an original woodcut in three colours published in Peking (now Beijing) in 1956 by Éditions en Langues Étrangères (Foreign Languages Press) (fl.1952–) as plate 2 to the folio of 40 original woodcuts printed in the People’s Republic of China, “Gravures sur Bois de la Chine Nouvelle.” Note that this print was featured in the second National Exhibition of Fine Arts (China) in 1955 and was chosen from this exhibition for its inclusion in the 1956 folio of prints representing the achievements of “la Chine Nouvelle” (the new China).

Woodcut in three colours (black, green and green-yellow/tan) printed on fine cream wove (China) paper with full margins and with printed title as published.

Size: (sheet) 34.8 x 25cm; (irregular image borderline) 25.6 x 18.1cm.

Condition: a strong and well-printed impression in a pristine condition.

I am selling this strong colour woodblock print of a seemingly simple potted lily until close examination shows the artist's ingenuity in creating the image—see for example his use of negative and positive lines seen in the outline of the pot and the flower pattern on the table—for AU $174 in total (currently US $108.16/ EUR104.88/ GBP 87.06 at the time of this listing) including Express Mail (EMS) postage and handling to anywhere in the world, but not (of course) any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries. Note that payment is in Australian dollars (AU $174) as this is my currency.

If you are interested in purchasing this original colour woodcut print from the founding period of the People's Republic of China, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.