Dialogue between Fisherman and Woodcutter

The present painting was dedicated to the current collector’s parents, Shaoxian and Baochun. The couple married in Hong Kong before moving to Paris in the mid-1950s. They later moved to Nancy where Shaoxian studied at the University of Nancy. Zhang Daqian’s inscription states that he was ‘also sojourning in Paris’ as the couple in late 1955, perhaps in transit between Japan and Brazil, in preparation for his exhibitions in Paris the following year. The couple remained friends with the artist until at least 1960, as documented by the artist’s signed exhibition catalogue dedicated to them.