Introduction
Sanyu stands as one of the defining figures of modern Chinese art, embodying the elegance, solitude, and artistic transformation of the twentieth century. A master of line and space, he merged the spirit of Chinese calligraphy with the language of Western modernism, transforming oil painting into a poetic dialogue between East and West. Through simplified forms, flowing "iron-wire" brushstrokes, and vast areas of emptiness, Sanyu created paintings that are simultaneously refined, melancholic, and timeless.
Today, Sanyu's artistic voice continues to resonate across the international art world. His paintings have become icons of modern Asian art, appearing in major museum exhibitions and record-breaking auctions worldwide. In 2019, Reclining Nude with Bent Leg sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong for HK$198 million, setting a record for Chinese oil painting and drawing renewed global attention to his work. This growing recognition has established Sanyu as a central figure in the history of modern art, admired for his ability to transform simplicity into profound emotional expression.
Notable examples include:
- Early works such as Returning Sails on the Autumn River, demonstrating his foundation in Chinese ink aesthetics and calligraphic composition
- Paintings from Sanyu's celebrated "Pink Period," including Pink Chrysanthemums in a White Vase, Two Horses on a Carpet, and Reclining Nude on a Floral Carpet, where soft rose-colored backgrounds create a mood of elegance, warmth, and lyrical serenity
- Works from the later "Black Period," such as Chrysanthemums in a Blue and White Vase and Herd of Horses, marked by dramatic dark backgrounds that heighten emotional tension and spiritual solitude
- His iconic nude paintings, including Reclining Nude with Bent Legs, where simplified bodies and empty space evoke purity, stillness, and quiet introspection
- Animal paintings such as Horses Drinking, in which minimal lines and balanced composition transform ordinary subjects into poetic meditations
Knowing Sanyu matters deeply for anyone seeking to understand modern Chinese culture and the global evolution of twentieth-century art. He was among the earliest Chinese artists to successfully transform traditional Chinese aesthetics into an international modern visual language, creating a bridge between literati painting and European modernism. His innovations reshaped perceptions of Chinese modern art, and he embodies the modern artistic ideal of turning loneliness, displacement, and simplicity into universal beauty. Sanyu's paintings invite us into a world of silence and contemplation—where elegance, vulnerability, and spiritual freedom exist in delicate harmony.
Knowledge Builder
Content
In this part, you will follow Sanyu's artistic formation from his early calligraphic training to his first experiments with oil painting, and see how a deep Chinese brush tradition became the foundation of his modern style. Through works such as Gathering Friends through Literature, Returning Sails on the Autumn River, Willow Tree, and Horses Drinking, you will discover how Sanyu began to transform line, space, and spirit into a new visual language.
1.1: Sanyu: Part 1
1.2: Quiz
In this part, you will enter Sanyu’s celebrated Pink Period, when his art reached a luminous and graceful maturity in Paris. Through works such as Little Deer, Flower and Fruit Basket on Pink Background, Acrobat on Horseback, Pink Cat, Pink Chrysanthemums in a White Vase, Two Horses on a Carpet, and Reclining Nude on a Floral Carpet, you will see how soft colors, flattened space, and elegant line created a world of quiet romance and modern refinement.
2.1: Sanyu: Part 2
2.2: Quiz
In this part, you will encounter the darker and more austere final phase of Sanyu’s career, known as the Black Period, when hardship reshaped both his life and his painting. Through works such as Chrysanthemums in a Blue and White Vase, Two Beauties on a Red Carpet, Leopard on the Grassland, Herd of Horses, Lilies on a Red Background, Reclining Nude with Bent Legs, and Lonely Little Elephant, you will see how he turned loneliness, poverty, and solitude into images of startling intensity and emotional depth.
3.1: Sanyu: Part 3
3.2: Quiz
Instructor
Lucas Liu, MFA
Teaching Philosophy
He advocates student-centered teaching and designs targeted courses based on each student’s unique characteristics. Through interactive engagement, he stimulates students’ enthusiasm for creation and fosters innovative thinking. He encourages students to accumulate both successful and experimental experiences in practice, continuously expand their creative horizons, and find their own artistic paths.
Teaching Achievements
His students have been admitted to top domestic art institutions such as the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University, as well as world-renowned international art schools.
In 2019, one of his students received admission offers from 12 art institutions (including OCAD University, Emily Carr University of Art + Design, and University of Alberta—three of Canada’s top art schools) and was awarded a $4,000 scholarship from Lakehead University.
Educational Background
- Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) University of Wisconsin- Madison, 2015 (Full Fellowship)
- Master of Arts (M.A.) - University of Wisconsin- Madison, 2014 (Full Fellowship)
- Bachelor’s of Arts - Tsinghua University Academy of Arts & Design, 2009