China Cove, Carmel, California

This painting is based on a series of seashore scenes that Chao Shao-an sketched during the summer of 1960. On the painting Chao records his motivation for this work: “In 1960 I traveled throughout the United States. I especially enjoyed China Cove and Bird Island at Carmel, California. At that time I made numerous quick sketches. This was one of the scenes. I completed this after my return home. Summer, fifth month, Guimao year [1963]. Shao-an at Hong Kong.”

The painting's subject reflects the prevailing taste of Hong Kong–based artists for seashore scenes. The work also reveals Chao's ability to organize and structure the rocky coasts with various brushstrokes, conveying the rocks' texture and the movement of white seabirds in flight.