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P. Chan (Paul Chan) — Original Batik Painting on Linen — Bird and Floral — Signed — circa 1940s–1950s
There is a moment in early spring when a bird pauses among the blossoms — not quite landed, not quite in flight — and the whole world holds its breath. This painting captures exactly that moment.
This is an original batik painting on linen by P. Chan — known to collectors as Paul Chan — a Chinese artist whose mid-20th century works on batik linen are considered among the most desirable examples of his output, with linen regarded by collectors as the earlier and more traditional ground for his work. This example is believed to date to the 1940s or 1950s, consistent with the linen ground, the classical composition, and the style of presentation. Chan\'s subjects — birds among blossoms, flowering branches, harbor scenes — are rooted in the classical Chinese bird-and-flower painting tradition that stretches back a thousand years, rendered here in a style that bridges Eastern technique and Western sensibility with complete confidence.
The painting depicts a green and white bird — wings open, suspended in the act of landing — approaching a branch heavy with large white peonies or camellias, their yellow centers glowing against the white petals. Dark teal and olive leaves fill the composition. A second white bloom opens in the lower right. Fine red branches reach upward against a softly graduated grey-green ground. The whole image breathes.
What makes this piece exceptional is the ground it is painted on. The characteristic crackled vein pattern running throughout the background — red lines branching like capillaries across the surface — is not painted detail but the batik itself: the wax-resist textile process that gives P. Chan\'s work its unmistakable and irreproducible texture. No two batik grounds are identical. This one is particularly dramatic.
The painting is signed in Chinese characters in the lower left with a red artist\'s seal stamp. The reverse is inscribed in a previous owner\'s hand: \"P. Chan — Floral — Orig. Batik — Signed\" — exactly the kind of contemporary documentation that gives collectors confidence. This is a larger than typical example of Chan\'s work at approximately 16.75 x 19.5 inches overall framed, and the size shows the composition to full advantage.
Condition: Excellent. The painting surface is clean and vibrant with no fading, tears, or damage. Minor wear on the frame consistent with age. Please review the photos carefully for a better understanding of condition. Photos are of the actual item up for sale. Not stock photos.
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