Printmaking
Rooster
by Xu Beihong · Yixing,Jiangsu$2,990
In stock
MaterialInk on xuan paper, mounted on silkscroll
Dimensions100 x 50 cm
Year1939
EditionUnique work
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The Story
This work, also known as Rooster on the Rock, is one of Xu Beihong’s most powerful flower-and-bird paintings. Xu, a master of blending Western realism with Eastern ink art, often painted roosters as symbols of awakening and resilience. In Chinese culture, the rooster’s crow marks the dawn, making it a powerful metaphor for hope and new beginnings. In this piece, he uses stark black ink for the rooster’s feathers, a vivid red for its comb, and soft washes for the rugged rock beneath it. The rooster stands tall and confident, its posture radiating strength and resolve. For Xu, this work was more than a painting; it was a statement of optimism during a dark period in Chinese history. He once said that the rooster’s unyielding call reminds us to keep faith in a brighter future. Today, this painting remains a beloved example of his mastery, admired for its bold composition and profound symbolic meaning.
Craft & Process
Combining bold ink lines with contrasting colors, the work blends traditional Chinese brush techniques with expressive composition. It aims to capture the rooster’s proud spirit, symbolizing courage, hope, and the dawn of a new era.
About the Artist
Xu Beihong
Yixing,Jiangsu
Modern Chinese painting master who fused European realism with traditional ink art, renowned worldwide for his galloping horses.
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