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Sanyu — Sanyu 常玉 | Beijing Circus 北京馬戲
Sanyu

Sanyu 常玉 | Beijing Circus 北京馬戲

Sanyu's "Beijing Circus" exemplifies the artist's distinctive modernist style that synthesizes Cubist fragmentation with Chinese aesthetic sensibilities. Executed in oil on Masonite, the composition captures the dynamic energy and spectacle of the circus through bold, interlocking forms and a vibrant palette that reflects the artist's time in Paris during the early twentieth century avant garde movement. The work demonstrates Sanyu's innovative approach to depicting movement and performance, translating the chaos and excitement of the circus ring into an abstracted visual language that bridges Eastern and Western artistic traditions.

Medium
oil on Masonite
Signed
Yes

🔨 Auction Lot

Modern & Contemporary Evening Auction

March 29, 2026

Estimate: $28,000,000$40,000,000

Lot 21

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About this work

Sanyu, Sanyu 常玉 | Beijing Circus 北京馬戲

Sanyu's "Beijing Circus" exemplifies the artist's distinctive modernist style that synthesizes Cubist fragmentation with Chinese aesthetic sensibilities. Executed in oil on Masonite, the composition captures the dynamic energy and spectacle of the circus through bold, interlocking forms and a vibrant palette that reflects the artist's time in Paris during the early twentieth century avant garde movement. The work demonstrates Sanyu's innovative approach to depicting movement and performance, translating the chaos and excitement of the circus ring into an abstracted visual language that bridges Eastern and Western artistic traditions.

Medium
oil on Masonite
Signed
Hand-signed by the artist
Seen at
Sotheby's, New York, London, Hong Kong, Paris

Related themes

Circus performance, Figurative Painting, Art Deco, Urban entertainment, Vibrant Color Palette, Chinese Artist, Whimsical Aesthetic, 20th century modernist, Expressionist Style, Oil on Canvas

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