Sanyu

Chinese · 1901–1966

Modernism Lyrical Figuration

Also known as:

Chang Yu Chang, Yu San Yu, Yenson

Sanyu left Sichuan for Paris in 1921 and never returned. His intimate paintings of nude women, cats, and flowers—distilled to lyrical essentials in a style bridging Matisse and Chinese ink traditions—went largely unrecognized in his lifetime. Today he is among the most expensive Chinese artists, with major paintings reaching above $25 million at Asian and international auctions.

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