'Long March' painting sells for 108 million yuan

Li Keran's grand Chinese ink and wash painting "Long March."

During a special auction themed "The Long March: Important Works by Modern Masters" held at the China Guardian 2010 Autumn Auction on Nov. 22, collectors favored the outstanding works of Chinese masters.

Li Keran's grand Chinese ink and wash painting "Long March" was sold for 108 million yuan. Its sale price was even higher than the previous record of 101 million yuan for Zhang Daqian's modern Chinese painting and calligraphy piece "Achensee Lake," which sold during the China Guardian 2010 Spring Auction.

The painting "Long March" was painted in 1959 and was based on former Chinese President Mao Zedong's poem in order to mark the 10th anniversary of the founding of New China. It represents a milestone in the history of Chinese art and is one of Li's major works.

The painting showcases the scenery in a lateral manner and depicts the magnificent range of mountains. The scene of the Red Army walking along narrow mountain roads stretches across the entire painting from the left to right.

The transaction value of all the paintings sold at the auction totaled 688 million yuan, including 45 million yuan for Zhang Daqian's "Self-Portrait and a Saint Bernard," and 40 million yuan for Zhang's "Gazing at the Waterfall." Qi Baishi's "Dragonflies under Wisteria – Eight-Character Couplets in Seal Script" and "Pigeon and Chrysanthemums" were sold 32 million yuan and 31 million yuan, respectively, and Xu Beihong's "Seven Magpies" was auctioned off for as high as 22 million yuan.

By People's Daily Online