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Zao Wou-Ki (Chinese-French, 1921–2013), "Untitled #12 (Agerup 120)" 1959
$6,800
£5,161.10
€5,948.59
CA$9,529.68
A$10,635.95
CHF 5,595.72
MX$129,197.39
NOK 70,938.86
SEK 66,389.89
DKK 44,396.42
About the Item
Zao Wou-Ki (Chinese-French, 1921–2013), *Untitled (Agerup 120)*, 1959, color etching and aquatint on Rives BFK paper, signed and dated in graphite at lower right, numbered 9/75 at lower left. This hauntingly lyrical composition emerges from Zao’s early explorations in printmaking during a period of transformative experimentation in Paris. The image presents a densely layered atmosphere of fluid, gestural abstraction—its composition defined by sweeping, calligraphic strokes in smoky blacks and shadowy browns, subtly modulated by hints of ochre and grey. The overall effect evokes both natural and metaphysical forces: a landscape suspended in motion, suggestive of birds, wind, water, or cloud—yet firmly grounded in Zao’s signature fusion of East Asian spiritual aesthetics and Western abstraction.
Printed by Raymond Dutrou in Paris and published by L’Oeuvre Gravée, Zürich, this etching belongs to a limited edition of 75 and is catalogued in *Zao Wou-Ki: L’œuvre gravé* by Agerup as no. 120. Housed in a vintage silver giltwood frame with silk-covered mat and a gold leaf inner fillet, the full framed dimensions of 22.125 inches high by 31.125 inches wide.
Zao Wou-Ki stands among the most internationally celebrated figures of postwar abstraction. Born in Beijing in 1921, Zao trained at the China Academy of Art in Hangzhou before relocating to Paris in 1948, where he soon entered the orbit of the École de Paris. Early works retained figurative elements, but under the influence of artists such as Paul Klee—whose synthesis of symbolic abstraction and musicality Zao admired—he gradually developed a gestural, non-objective language deeply informed by traditional Chinese ink painting. His calligraphic marks and dynamic brushwork became hallmarks of a transcultural idiom that bridged Taoist philosophy and Western modernism.
Though primarily known for his large-scale oil paintings, Zao also produced a significant body of graphic work throughout his career. His prints, like his paintings, often retain a sense of spatial ambiguity and meditative rhythm, and are widely collected by institutions including the Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris, the British Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Art Institute of Chicago. Zao Wou-Ki became a naturalized French citizen in 1964, was named a commander of the Legion of Honour, and was elected to the Académie des Beaux-Arts in 2002. His work continues to garner strong international acclaim, praised for its seamless fusion of East and West, of gesture and silence.
- Creator:Zao Wou-Ki (Artist)
- Dimensions:Height: 22.125 in (56.2 cm)Width: 31.125 in (79.06 cm)Depth: 0.5 in (1.27 cm)
- Style:Expressionist (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1959
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Minor wear commensurate with age and handling. A few nicks to the frame and some waviness to the left side of paper.
- Seller Location:Atlanta, GA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU7838246152972
Zao Wou-Ki
Zao Wou-Ki was born in Beijing, China, on February 13, 1921, to a wealthy family descended from the Song Dynasty.
French-educated Chinese artist Lin Fengmian was Wou-Ki’s teacher at the China Academy of Art from 1935–41 and encouraged him to study abroad in Paris. Wou-Ki made the move in 1948 with a substantial amount of financial backing and later adopted France as his new home, remaining in the country, besides a few short trips abroad, until his death.
In Paris, Wou-Ki quickly joined a large postwar French art circle, composed of key writers, poets, painters and cultural figures, including Joan Miró, Pablo Picasso, Riopelle and Vieira da Silva, among others. This networking helped position himself at the top of the Lyrical Abstraction movement. By his mid-30s, Wou-Ki had decided to devote his artistic career to abstract painting that blended Eastern and Western stylistic traditions.
In 2011, Wou-Ki was referred to in art publications as the top-selling living Chinese artist. He died in Nyon, Switzerland, on April 9, 2013, at the age of 93.
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