Lot 44
LEE MAN FONG
B. China, 1913 – 1988
Satay Seller, 1958
Signed “M Fong” with artist’s seal on lower right
Pastel on paper
69 x 42 cm
Provenance Private Collection, Singapore
Formerly in the Private Collection of a Distinguished Collector in Jakarta, Indonesia
The original work on board for this artwork was sold on 25th of April 2004 in the South East Asian and 20th Century Indian Pictures Sales in Christie’s Hong Kong (Lot 575)
RM 15,000 – RM 25,000
The Satay Seller is a classic piece that epitomises Lee’s refined style as well as his fondness for illustrating vignettes of local Indonesian life. Painted in a vertical orientation that bears resemblance to classical Chinese paintings, it depicts a quintessentially Southeast Asian scene – a satay seller grilling his skewers on a small charcoal brazier while patiently fanning the coals with a piece of rattan and enclosed by eagerly waiting customers. Relatively bright colours are used to highlight the subjects and feature the influence of Chinese ink paintings as Lee’s artistic vocabulary.