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Chinese Classical & Modern Drawings

Historically, Chinese drawing included both figural ink or watercolor sketches as well as calligraphic writings on paper. Similar to Chinese paintings, drawings are marked by dynamic use of line. Expression through penmanship, therefore, is elevated in Chinese culture to the ranks of high art forms like painting.

Chinese drawings, rather than merely depicting life by appearances, sought to capture expression and feeling by channeling it from the artist, through the brush, and onto paper. Understanding the spirit of the subject was more important than the physical resemblance. Calligraphy, with each word defined by its own unique drawing, became an important form of art with the emergence of written language in China, starting before 1500 B.C.


Quick Facts

  • The Chinese have long embraced drawing for its clarity, energy, and aesthetic form
  • In ancient China, calligraphy was viewed as a higher art form than painting until the Song Dynasty, when painting became closely associated with calligraphy
  • Chinese drawings originated first as ornamental decorations on everyday objects before becoming appreciated on their own

Recommended Items at Auction

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張大千 花卉
Jul 31, 11:00 AM JST
張大千 花卉
by Auspicious Auction
Est: ¥0- ¥0
¥50,0002 Bids
NING YEH (Chinese, b. 1946)
Jul 27, 10:00 AM EDT
NING YEH (Chinese, b. 1946)
by Butterscotch Auction Gallery LLC
Est: $200- $400
$1501 Bid
吳昌碩 花卉
Jul 31, 11:00 AM JST
吳昌碩 花卉
by Auspicious Auction
Est: ¥0- ¥0
¥30,0001 Bid
李行簡 小橋流水
Jul 31, 11:00 AM JST
李行簡 小橋流水
by Auspicious Auction
Est: ¥0- ¥0
¥30,0000 Bids
Yan Zhenqing (709-785), attributed to, Poems of Qingyuan Taoist Priest in Calligraphy
Jul 17, 2:00 PM PDT
Yan Zhenqing (709-785), attributed to, Poems of Qingyuan Taoist Priest in Calligraphy
by Walnut Tree Auction House, Inc
Est: $4,000- $5,000
$5000 Bids
Zhang Xu (active 8th century), attributed to, Cursive Script Calligraphy
Jul 17, 2:00 PM PDT
Zhang Xu (active 8th century), attributed to, Cursive Script Calligraphy
by Walnut Tree Auction House, Inc
Est: $3,300- $4,300
$5000 Bids
Emperor Huizong (1082-1135), attributed to, Peony Poems in Calligraphy
Jul 17, 2:00 PM PDT
Emperor Huizong (1082-1135), attributed to, Peony Poems in Calligraphy
by Walnut Tree Auction House, Inc
Est: $4,000- $5,000
$5000 Bids
Calligraphy
Jul 17, 2:00 PM PDT
Calligraphy
by Walnut Tree Auction House, Inc
Est: $2,300- $3,300
$5000 Bids
Ye Gongchuo (1881-1968), attributed to, Couplet Calligraphy
Jul 17, 2:00 PM PDT
Ye Gongchuo (1881-1968), attributed to, Couplet Calligraphy
by Walnut Tree Auction House, Inc
Est: $2,300- $3,300
$5000 Bids
Tang Yin (1470-1524), attributed to, Calligraphy
Jul 17, 2:00 PM PDT
Tang Yin (1470-1524), attributed to, Calligraphy
by Walnut Tree Auction House, Inc
Est: $2,200- $3,200
$5000 Bids
Yongzheng Emperor (1678-1735), attributed to, Imperial Calligraphy
Jul 17, 2:00 PM PDT
Yongzheng Emperor (1678-1735), attributed to, Imperial Calligraphy
by Walnut Tree Auction House, Inc
Est: $2,200- $3,200
$5000 Bids
Shen Zhou (1427-1509), attributed to, Han Yu's Prose Handscroll
Jul 17, 2:00 PM PDT
Shen Zhou (1427-1509), attributed to, Han Yu's Prose Handscroll
by Walnut Tree Auction House, Inc
Est: $7,000- $8,000
$5000 Bids
Yang Liu Qing (20th Century)
Jul 15, 6:00 PM EDT
Yang Liu Qing (20th Century)
by Orion Antiques
Est: $50- $150
$200 Bids
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CALLIGRAPHY IN CURSIVE SCRIPT BY LU YUNJIAN
Jul 26, 10:00 AM EDT
CALLIGRAPHY IN CURSIVE SCRIPT BY LU YUNJIAN
by William's Auctions, LLC
Est: $140- $210
$700 Bids
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CALLIGRAPHY BY ZHAI FANGXIN
Jul 27, 10:00 AM EDT
CALLIGRAPHY BY ZHAI FANGXIN
by William's Auctions, LLC
Est: $140- $210
$700 Bids
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CURSIVE SCRIPT BY FANG YONGBAI
Jul 27, 10:00 AM EDT
CURSIVE SCRIPT BY FANG YONGBAI
by William's Auctions, LLC
Est: $140- $210
$700 Bids
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LU YUN JIAN, CALLIGRAPHY IN CURSIVE SCRIPT
Jul 27, 10:00 AM EDT
LU YUN JIAN, CALLIGRAPHY IN CURSIVE SCRIPT
by William's Auctions, LLC
Est: $140- $210
$700 Bids
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SET OF XUAN PAPER CALIGRAPHY PAPER FROM SHANG HAI DUO YUN XUAN
Jul 26, 10:00 AM EDT
SET OF XUAN PAPER CALIGRAPHY PAPER FROM SHANG HAI DUO YUN XUAN
by William's Auctions, LLC
Est: $80- $120
$400 Bids
Portrait of Li Tieguai, Taoist Deity of Healing
Jul 17, 10:00 AM PDT
Portrait of Li Tieguai, Taoist Deity of Healing
by Andrew Jones Auctions
Est: $80- $120
$400 Bids
A CHINESE CALLIGRAPHY SIGNED LUXUN
Jul 27, 10:00 AM EDT
A CHINESE CALLIGRAPHY SIGNED LUXUN
by Berkeley Auction Gallery
Est: $700- $900
$2000 Bids
A CHINESE CALLIGRAPHY SIGNED ZHAO PUCHU
Jul 27, 10:00 AM EDT
A CHINESE CALLIGRAPHY SIGNED ZHAO PUCHU
by Berkeley Auction Gallery
Est: $800- $1,000
$2000 Bids
A CHINESE CALLIGRAPHY SIGNED LIUYONG
Jul 27, 10:00 AM EDT
A CHINESE CALLIGRAPHY SIGNED LIUYONG
by Berkeley Auction Gallery
Est: $2,000- $3,000
$4000 Bids
A CHINESE CALLIGRAPHY SIGNED SHA MENGHAI
Jul 27, 10:00 AM EDT
A CHINESE CALLIGRAPHY SIGNED SHA MENGHAI
by Berkeley Auction Gallery
Est: $800- $1,000
$2000 Bids

Sellers Who Sell Chinese Classical & Modern Drawings


Auspicious Auction

Auspicious Auction

Fukuoka Yumekai Auction

Fukuoka Yumekai Auction

Walnut Tree Auction House, Inc

Walnut Tree Auction House, Inc