A Confluence of Souls
The Collection of Chang Chun: Zhang Daqian’s Fans and Floral Works
The upcoming Fine Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy auction this October in Hong Kong will present a remarkable offering from the Collection of Chang Chun, featuring seven folding fans and a set of floral works by Zhang Daqian, spanning from the 1920s to the 1970s. These works, created across half a century, form a flowing poem that traverses the river of time, not only chronicling Daqian's artistic evolution but also mirroring the lifelong friendship between the two.
In the ever-changing world of the 20th century, the worlds of politics and art, though seemingly disparate, occasionally intertwined to create poignant narratives. Chang Chun (1889-1990), a prominent statesman, and Zhang Daqian (Chang Dai-chien, 1899-1983), a towering figure in Chinese painting, formed an extraordinary friendship despite their ten-year age difference, united by their shared passion for art.
Zhang Daqian (middle), Chan Chun (right). Photographed in location Zhang Xueliang's Residence, 1964.
Zhang Daqian (middle), Chan Chun (right). Photographed in location Zhang Xueliang's Residence, 1964.
Throughout their lives, regardless of upheavals or geographical distances, Chang always came to Daqian's aid – supporting his exhibitions, offering financial assistance, and even saving his life in times of peril. Daqian, in turn, expressed his profound gratitude to his elder brother and patron through his art.
The collection begins with a folding fan from 1927, predating their acquaintance. Chang acquired most of Daqian's early works through commissions or exhibitions. This fan still bears the ink marks of Chang’s courtesy name "Yuejun" on the inside of its fan leaf and bone, typical of commissioned fans of the period.
ZHANG DAQIAN, Loquat after Jin Nong; Poem in Running Script, 1927. Ink and colour on paper; ink on gold-flecked paper, folding fan. Estimate HK$300,000 - 500,000
ZHANG DAQIAN, Loquat after Jin Nong; Poem in Running Script, 1927. Ink and colour on paper; ink on gold-flecked paper, folding fan. Estimate HK$300,000 - 500,000
Their friendship blossomed in Shanghai five years later. In 1932, Daqian painted in the style of their mutually admired Shitao. Soon after, he created another fan in the manner of Chen Hongshou, and his address to Chang evolved from the formal "Honoured Brother" to the more intimate "Elder Brother".
ZHANG DAQIAN, Landscape after Chen Hongshou. Ink and colour on paper, fan leaf, scroll. Estimate HK$150,000 - 280,000
ZHANG DAQIAN, Landscape after Chen Hongshou. Ink and colour on paper, fan leaf, scroll. Estimate HK$150,000 - 280,000
ZHANG DAQIAN, Ramble by the Riverside; Poem in Running Script, 1932. Ink on gold paper; ink on gold paper, folding fan. Estimate HK$360,000 - 600,000
ZHANG DAQIAN, Ramble by the Riverside; Poem in Running Script, 1932. Ink on gold paper; ink on gold paper, folding fan. Estimate HK$360,000 - 600,000
In 1944, upon Daqian's return from Dunhuang to Sichuan, where Chang served as Governor, Chang mobilised considerable resources to support Daqian's exhibitions. That summer, Daqian presented Chang with a fan painting in lush blue-and-green landscapes, its golden paper shimmer emphasising the verdant layers - a reflection of his newfound magnificent style from Dunhuang and his deep gratitude to Chang.
ZHANG DAQIAN, Splendid Verdant Peaks; Calligraphy in Running Script, 1944. Ink and colour on gold paper; ink on gold paper, folding fan. Estimate HK1,200,000 - 2,000,000
ZHANG DAQIAN, Splendid Verdant Peaks; Calligraphy in Running Script, 1944. Ink and colour on gold paper; ink on gold paper, folding fan. Estimate HK1,200,000 - 2,000,000
In 1949, Daqian left Chengdu with the help by Chang. Their bond transcended mere artistic appreciation to become one of mutual trust with life itself. The fan Alone Amidst the Autumn Forest (1951) was painted as Daqian prepared to depart for Argentina, its solitary figure symbolising their impending separation.
ZHANG DAQIAN, Alone Amidst the Autumn Forest; Poem in Running Script, 1951. Ink and colour on paper, ink on paper, folding fan. Estimate HK$450,000 - 800,000
ZHANG DAQIAN, Alone Amidst the Autumn Forest; Poem in Running Script, 1951. Ink and colour on paper, ink on paper, folding fan. Estimate HK$450,000 - 800,000
Over the next two decades, as Daqian's international reputation soared, Chang's unwavering support continued behind the scenes. In the 1970s, Daqian, then residing in California, would send fans to Chang, as if bringing the cool Pacific breeze to his elder brother in sultry Taipei.
A 1974 fan features bold ink-splash mountains resembling roiling clouds. The following year's Plum Blossom, carefully brought to Taipei by Shen Weichuang, expressed Daqian's longing to return home, becoming a widely celebrated piece in Taipei.
ZHANG DAQIAN, Overlooking the Distant Mountains; Poem in Running Script, 1974. Ink and colour on paper, ink on paper, folding fan. Estimate HK$450,000 - 800,000
ZHANG DAQIAN, Overlooking the Distant Mountains; Poem in Running Script, 1974. Ink and colour on paper, ink on paper, folding fan. Estimate HK$450,000 - 800,000
ZHANG DAQIAN, Plum Blossom; Poem in Running Script, 1975. Ink and colour on paper, ink on paper, folding fan. Estimate HK$450,000 - 800,000
ZHANG DAQIAN, Plum Blossom; Poem in Running Script, 1975. Ink and colour on paper, ink on paper, folding fan. Estimate HK$450,000 - 800,000
After Daqian's return to Taiwan in 1976, their relationship grew even closer. Flowers of the Four Seasons (1979), featuring peonies, lotuses, hibiscuses, and plum blossoms, uses seasonal flora to symbolise their enduring friendship through time's passage.
ZHANG DAQIAN, Flowers of the Four Seasons, 1979. Ink and colour on cardboard, four framed panels. Estimate HK$1,400,000 - 2,500,000
ZHANG DAQIAN, Flowers of the Four Seasons, 1979. Ink and colour on cardboard, four framed panels. Estimate HK$1,400,000 - 2,500,000
This collection represents not merely artistic excellence but the tangible embodiment of a half-century friendship. Chang's careful preservation of these works has ensured they resonate through the annals of time and continue to tell their story to future generations.
Watch the story of the seven extraordinary fans and a set of four floral panels that chronicle both artistic evolution and deep friendship between Zhang Daqian and Chang Chun.
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