On a Rooftop Garden
Dated 1975
Oil on canvas,
116.5 x 80 cm
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The lady standing here is Ch'en
Shu-hui, a daughter-in-law of Li Mei-shu. Ch'en Shu-hui once commented that Li appreciated
the colors and style of the dress shown in this painting.
Except for the figure, steel support, and window frame, all the
other elements in this painting were added by Li Mei-shu. The orchids shown in the
background are that he saw on a visit to the botanical gardens in the Taipei suburb of
Shih-lin. A four-story apartment building in Pan-ch'iao in the upper right corner was
replaced by a traditional building in the painting. Li Mei-shu conveyed a sense of
brightness and beauty here as the leaves and flowers (of the dress and in the background)
unify the surface for an effect that is exceptionally pleasing to the eye.
The lady's arms are placed naturally at her side for a
straightforward pose. This work is representative of Li Mei-shu's style from his late
years. |