Chinese School Highland Child Oil Portrait – Possibly Lin Shusen (林树森, b. 1974)

Chinese School Early 21st Century Highland Child Oil Portrait – Possibly Lin Shusen (林树森, b. 1974)

An evocative signed Chinese oil portrait of a young child within an expansive western-Chinese highland landscape, bearing a Yi Ren Gallery, Shanghai label and with recent research suggesting a possible attribution to Shenzhen/Dafen painter Lin Shusen.

Highlights

• Chinese School, probably early 21st century

• Oil on canvas

• Signed lower right in blue Chinese script

• Signature appears possibly to read “Shusen” (树森?)

• Possibly by Lin Shusen (林树森, b. 1974)

• Attribution remains unconfirmed

• Portrait of a young child in highland dress

• Yi Ren Gallery / 伊人畫廊, Shanghai label verso

• Decorative gilt frame

• Framed dimensions: 33.5 × 28 × 2.5 cm

• Dealer title: Highland Child (Anticipation)

Introduction

Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD® is delighted to present this fascinating signed Chinese oil portrait depicting a young child standing within an expansive ochre and blue-grey highland landscape.

The painting has recently been the subject of detailed research prompted by two particularly interesting pieces of evidence: the blue Chinese signature at lower right and the surviving Yi Ren Gallery, Shanghai label attached to the reverse.

Research has identified Shenzhen/Dafen realist painter Lin Shusen (林树森, b. 1974) as the strongest potential artist candidate. The attribution has not been authenticated, however, and the work is therefore catalogued conservatively as Chinese School, possibly by Lin Shusen.

Catalogue Details

Artist: Chinese School; possibly Lin Shusen (林树森, b. 1974)

Title: Highland Child (Anticipation) – dealer title

Date: Probably early 21st century

Medium: Oil on canvas

Signature: Signed lower right in Chinese, apparently “Shusen” (树森?); reading unconfirmed

Frame: Decorative gilt frame

Verso: Yi Ren Gallery / 伊人畫廊, Shanghai label

Framed dimensions: 33.5 cm high × 28 cm wide × 2.5 cm deep

Catalogue Note

The young sitter is portrayed against a broad and sparsely populated landscape of warm ochre earth and distant blue-grey hills.

Wearing substantial fur- or fleece-trimmed clothing with red decorative elements around the neck, the child raises one hand towards the mouth. The spontaneous gesture and animated, smiling expression give the portrait considerable personality and immediacy.

The painter concentrates comparatively controlled modelling upon the child's face and hand, while the surrounding landscape is constructed through broader and substantially more textured passages of oil paint.

Possible Attribution to Lin Shusen

The blue signature at lower right appears potentially capable of being read as “树森” – Shusen – although its cursive execution and thick underlying paint prevent a definitive reading from photographs alone.

Research has identified Lin Shusen (林树森, born 1974, Quanzhou, Fujian) as the strongest potential artist candidate.

Lin developed his career within the Shenzhen/Dafen painting community and is documented as having a sustained interest in realist figure painting, particularly children and Tibetan/highland subjects.

Published works including Xiahe Shepherdess (2011), Zhuoma II (2012), Tibetan Bridegroom (2014) and Morning Light at Xiahe (2017) provide an important comparison group.

Of particular interest is Morning Light at Xiahe. Although not the same composition, it similarly combines a young highland figure, fur-edged clothing, a hand raised towards the face and a broad plateau landscape.

These parallels, together with the possible “Shusen” signature, make Lin Shusen a significant research lead. Nevertheless, no documentary evidence has presently been established conclusively identifying this particular painting as his work.

The Artist – Lin Shusen

Lin Shusen was born in Quanzhou, Fujian, in 1974.

Published biographical information records that he established his first art studio in 1996 and opened Senyi Classic Gallery in Dafen in 2004. He subsequently undertook advanced oil-painting study at Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts, further study connected with the Repin Academy in Russia in 2012, and study at the Chinese Academy of Oil Painting in 2015.

His recorded exhibition history includes participation in the Shenzhen International Art Fair, a “Highland Red” themed solo exhibition in 2013, a Sino-American art exchange exhibition in Sacramento in 2015 and a dedicated Lin Shusen oil-painting exhibition at Dafen Art Museum in 2018.

His continuing institutional association with Dafen is demonstrated by his inclusion among ten artists in a Dafen Art Museum exhibition held from June to July 2026.

Yi Ren Gallery, Shanghai

The reverse retains a printed label for Yi Ren Gallery / 伊人畫廊 giving the address 1483 Gubei Road, HongGu Wan Pedestrian Walk, Shanghai, together with Shanghai telephone numbers.

Independent research has identified evidence for a business operating under the Yi-Ren Gallery name in Shanghai, although the precise historical relationship between that business and the Gubei Road address has not yet been established.

The surviving label should therefore be understood as evidence of an association with Yi Ren Gallery, Shanghai, rather than proof that this particular painting was formally exhibited there.

Subject

The landscape has previously been described as the Gobi Desert. However, nothing presently visible on the Yi Ren Gallery label identifies the precise location.

A western-Chinese or highland landscape is therefore the more responsible catalogue description.

Interestingly, Lin Shusen is independently documented as having travelled through Dunhuang, Yumen Pass, Yang Pass and the Gobi in connection with his Silk Road paintings, but this does not establish the location represented in the present work.

Provenance

Bearing a Yi Ren Gallery / 伊人畫廊, Shanghai label to the verso, giving 1483 Gubei Road and Shanghai contact details; precise date and nature of the gallery's involvement unrecorded.

Subsequently with Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®, United Kingdom.

Exhibition History

No confirmed exhibition history has presently been established for this particular painting.

Dimensions

Height: 33.5 cm

Width: 28 cm

Depth: 2.5 cm

Measurements include the frame.

Condition Report

Presented in used condition consistent with its history.

The painted surface displays pronounced cracking/craquelure-like fissures, particularly within the heavily worked pale background, together with scattered surface marks and spotting.

The decorative gilt frame displays rubbing, scuffs and general age-related handling wear.

These observations are based upon visual examination and do not constitute a professional conservation report.

Shipping

Worldwide shipping is available.

The painting will be professionally packed with appropriate consideration given to the original unlined canvas and decorative frame. Insured delivery can be arranged according to destination.

Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution

The artwork will be supplied with a Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution issued by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®, recording the artwork’s catalogue details, attribution, provenance as stated, and details of the sale. This document accompanies the work as part of its ongoing ownership and provenance record.

Attribution and Research

The historical observations, provenance research, attribution analysis and contextual commentary presented within this catalogue entry represent the professional opinion of Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®. They are offered in good faith as informed scholarly assessments based upon the available evidence, comparative research, published reference material and our experience within the international fine art market.

These observations should be understood as professional opinions rather than definitive statements of fact or guarantees of authorship, attribution, date, origin, provenance or historical interpretation. As with all historic works of art, future documentary discoveries, technical examination, conservation analysis or advances in academic research may refine, expand or revise current interpretations.

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Additional photographs and further information are available upon request.