From a worldly perspective, larger items may seem more valuable. However, smaller paintings are often harder to control than larger ones because, with bigger works, one can still make corrections, while the artistic value of smaller paintings can sometimes be higher than that of larger ones. Taking Qing Dynasty porcelain as an example, the taste of Yongzheng’s porcelain is much higher than that of Qianlong’s, yet Yongzheng’s porcelain is significantly smaller in size and thus priced lower. In reality, its artistic and market value should be higher.
Huang Binhong is also known as the “Van Gogh of China,” with a unique personal charm in his style. He was able to free himself from worldly troubles and achieve a connection with the universe’s spirituality. In his later years, he suffered from low vision and deteriorating eyesight. His compositions became unbalanced, but this is what makes them special.
In addition to composition, Van Gogh was also a master of Impressionism. Huang Binhong’s works similarly embody a strong Impressionist feel, using heavier colors that create a more impactful sensation. His paintings are vivid and lively, with landscapes appearing to be in motion. One small painting sold at auction for over 4 million HKD, partly due to his use of color. Impressionism particularly emphasizes the use of color, while traditional Chinese painting focuses on black and white. However, the emphasis lies in the layering of colors and the expression of emotions.
In the West, there is a distinction between warm and cool colors; for example, red represents passion and should not be used to convey calmness or melancholy, whereas blue is more challenging to express joyful emotions.