A ‘CRAB AND CABBAGE’ SCROLL PAINTING BY IMPORTANT ARTISTS China, 1935. Ink and watercolor on paper. Depicting a basket on the upper side with two crabs attracted by its contents, three abalones on the left of the basket. The lower part depicting two carrots and a cabbage. Mounted to a scroll with a fabric coated passepartout and wooden handle. Calligraphy and four seal marks on the top left, a seal mark on the bottom right corner. Calligraphy on the exterior.

Inscriptions: Text on the painting ‘A collaboration of Wang Caibai, Zheng Wuchang, Fang Jiekan and Zheng Yue who met in Moling An theme park during winter of the year of Yihai (1935), calligraphy written by Zheng Yue’. Four seals on the left ‘Wang Caibai’ ‘Wuchang’, ’Fang Zhiyi’ and ‘(translated) Lotus’. Seal on the bottom right ‘Moling’. Text on the exterior ’Wang Caibai and Zheng Wuchang painted in the old style’.

Condition: Overall good condition with some moldy spots, creases, soiling, the lower and upper end of the passepartout with material loss and tears.
Provenance: Spanish private collection.

Dimensions: 234 x 48 cm (incl. frame), 132 x 33.1 cm(image)

Wang Caibai (1887-1940) was a student of Huang Bihong. He worked as professor at the Beiping Art College and later became the director of the art department at the College of Education of the National Central University.

Zheng Wuchang (1894-1952) was a painter, teacher, art historian and prolific author. His most well-known treatise is Zhongguo Huaxue quanshi (A Complete History of Chinese Paintings), an extensive overview of Chinese artists and their practice.

Fang Jiekan (1901-1987) was painter, calligrapher, and seal engraver. He worked as the editor for the magazine of the National Palace Museum and was also the professor at Shanghai Meizhuan and the China Art School.

Zheng Yue (1902-1975), also known as Zhen Manqing, was a notable Chinese calligrapher, painter, poet, and had expertise in taiqi and Chinese medicine. Due to his skills, he was often referred to as the ‘Master of Five Excellences’.