Donkeys

As a prolific artist for the people, Huang Zhou is well known for his paintings of figures, animals, and scenes from China’s frontier regions, particularly the western border province of Xinjiang. In 1948, Huang traveled to that area to observe the local life of minorities and the working class, sketching various herding, hunting, and entertaining scenes. Just like Xu Beihong (1895–1953) who was known for his horse paintings, Huang became famous for his lively depictions of donkeys and developed a particular affinity to horses and camels. In this composition, Huang employed a freehand approach to ink and brush when depicting donkeys in varied positions and from different perspectives. With minimal brushstrokes, Huang managed to render the vivid appearances of the donkeys and capture the lively feeling of their movements.