Xu Beihong

Appraisal and Market Value of Xu Beihong (1895–1953)   

A great modern Chinese painter, born in Yixing. Introduced to calligraphy and traditional painting by his father at a very young age, he quickly developed remarkable artistic talent. After studying in Shanghai and then in Tokyo, he left for Paris in 1919 to attend the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts, where he studied academic drawing and Western oil painting. Upon his return to China, he became a professor and went on to lead several major art institutions, notably the Central Academy of Fine Arts in 1949.  

Xu Beihong played a major role in the modernization of Chinese art. He blended traditional Chinese ink-and-brush techniques with the Western realism he had learned in Europe. Renowned for his dynamic and expressive depictions of horses, he sought to create a modern national art form capable of uniting Chinese tradition with international influences. His work profoundly influenced the younger generation of Asian artists and contributed to the development of modern Chinese art. 

How to Recognize a Work by Xu Beihong  

Xu Beihong’s works are easily recognizable thanks to several distinctive features. First, his famous ink paintings of horses are highly realistic, powerful, and full of movement. He uses swift, masterful brushstrokes, with a strong contrast between dark areas and spaces left white. His paintings often display great anatomical precision, a trait inherited from Western drawing.  

His style is also recognizable by the fusion of Chinese tradition and European techniques: balanced composition, greater depth, and a commitment to realism. The works often feature Chinese calligraphy and a traditional red seal. Themes related to nature, animals, or symbolic figures are common, with an aesthetic that is at once elegant, expressive, and modern.  

In 2012, the Aguttes auction house sold one of the artist’s ink-on-paper works depicting a Galloping Horse for €255,000.  

Xu Beihong commands a very high price on the Asian art market.  

His works are particularly sought after by collectors. The price of his paintings can exceed €10,000,000, while his drawings are estimated at between €5,000 and €10,000,000.  

His prints, which are more affordable, generally sell for between €300 and €2,600, depending on their rarity, condition, and provenance.