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Hi - I just picked this up at an auction and it is claimed to be a fu baoshi by way of Cao Rulin's personal collection. I was wondering if anyone could help with the translation. Thanks in advance

潤田吾兄敬乞教政
To Runtian, my brother,　I would like to thank you for your guidance.
癸未十二月東川金剛坂丁寫
In December of the Year of Water-Sheep (1943)
Painted by Baoshi at Dongchuan Jingangpo
Seal,
傳　Fu

Back side,
傳抱石寫　生山水
Painting from Fu Baoshi Original landscape
覚盦　Jue`an Pseudonym (of Runtian)
Seal,
潤田 Runtian (to whom the painter dedicated the painting)

With regards,
I.Nagy

Thank you very much for taking the time to translate the script and seals I.Nagy! I really appreciate all you and Rat and everyone else does around here. It appears Runtian was the courtesy name of Cao Rulin so that checks out. Thanks

Thanks for the kind words, Jeff, but I. Nagy really does all the heavy lifting around here.

I hesitated to comment but this seems an appropriate moment to ask you to compare this picture to other works that Fu Baoshi painted in 1943. His style was
already reasonably mature then, and I'm concerned about the bright blue foliage and relative crudeness of the figures in this scroll.
For instance, compare this landscape: https://collections.ashmolean.org/collection/browse-9148/object/25596

These figures (albeit at a larger scale than yours are intended): https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/77000

More broadly see https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/objects?exhibitionId=5377374c-d0ea-4e02-9d23-5349a573a9bb&pkgids=184

I tend to agree with you on the crudeness of the figures. There is another version of this I have found that isn't as broad of a view of the same scene - not sure if mine is an attempt to copy this - Paid a decent bit but I like it and nothing too crazy so not stressing it. Cheers

This is the link to that version -https://www.pinterest.fr/pin/449445237795005544/

seems to be a nice catch! in a fine older mounting. you probably can even confirm the writing on the slip? I find the trees in the corner very interesting, something oldfashioned. Whats the size?

Peter

The image size on this guy is 100cm by 50cm - so a decent size painting.

Jeff

A bit bigger than I thought.
I don't think a too eclectic approach is appropriate for Fu Baoshi. There are not two paintings really alike in style, no face seems to be repeated simply.
Your painting is entertaining and provides a great depth, and all details have their part in this (also the red and green tree in the corner). The figures are more important in their position than in their shape. It is executed in techniques which are difficult and not easy to obtain, especially the underrated ink and color wash guiding the light through the composition. It is on the right paper and comes with an old mounting and a reasonable history.
Its a painting each time you hang, it will make you ask yourself why the hell you should doubt it.

peter

Thank you Peter - Much appreciated

Hello,

I am by no means an expert but I do not believe that this is an authentic painting by Fu Baoshi.
Well there is certainly something fishy about it.

I am not sure anymore but I think I have read somewhere that the auction house (MS eA G) is known for selling fakes.

When you search for sales in the past you can see that this auction house had sold this painting 8 times between 2021 and 2022.
But apparently no one paid for it.

Lastly the price you paid is way too low for an authenic Fu Baoshi painting.
I suspect that you might own some kind of a copy.

Regards

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