Pink Chrysanthemum in a White Vase

Painted in 1931, this is considered to be one of the great masterpieces amidst Sanyu's transitional period. It was exactly the year after which his marriage failed and his family wealth were depleted. He was so impoverished and miserable that he had to live in solitude. This series of events put his nerves on edge. And finally, in 1966, he was killed in an incident of carbon monoxide poisoning.
In this painting, the solid pink underpainting spreads a sense of warmth and mildness over the canvas. Stripes on both side remind us of the mounting techniques for ancient Chinese paintings. Therefore, if viewing from a distance, you will perceive a kind of oriental elegance. Learning from Chinese calligraphy, Sanyu used concise and unbroken brown lines to paint the Chinese-style vase. As for the chrysanthemums and their branches and leaves, he used a stiff brush to bring about the effect of a sculpted relief. We could tell from the overall tone that this painting should be finished before all those sufferings, because it combines a wave of nostalgia with detachedness and tenderness.