Nocturne
Artist
Zao Wou-ki
(Chinese-French, 1920-2013)
Date1955
MediumLithograph
DimensionsFrame Size: 23 3/4 × 27 3/4 in. (60.3 × 70.5 cm)
Image Size: 15 × 19 in. (38.1 × 48.3 cm)
ClassificationsPrint
Object numberUAC1417
DescriptionZao Wou-Ki was a distinguished Chinese-French painter revered for his captivating abstract works that harmoniously fused the rich traditions of Eastern and Western art. He once poignantly observed, “Everybody is bound by a tradition. I am bound by two.” Born in Peking, China, Zao and spent six formative years at the Hangzhou Fine Arts School, where he was profoundly influenced by the elegance of traditional Chinese and Japanese art, as well as the innovative styles of Western masters, before moving to Paris in 1947.In 2016, his extraordinary legacy was celebrated in the United States with a landmark retrospective titled “No Limits Zao Wou-Ki” at the Asia Society in New York. Today, his masterpieces hold esteemed places in the collections of prestigious institutions such as the Tate Gallery in London, The Museum of Modern Art in New York, and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., ensuring that his artistic spirit continues to inspire and enchant generations to come.
