GONG NAICHANG (Chinese, b. 1932). BARACK OBAMA, finger ink on paper, brocade mounted, signed and sealed, dated 1997 - Unframed, sight: 32 3/4 in. x 23 3/4 in. Estimate $600-800
Finger painting is one of the traditional Chinese painting methods, which dates to the Qing Dynasty. Today, finger painting artists are very few, and most of them specialize in paintings of flowers and birds. Gong Naichang, however, has re-interpreted this art form in his finger-painted portraits.
Mr. Gong studied under the famous Chinese artist Xu Beihong and graduated from the Wu Zuoren's Studio of Oil Painting of China Central Academy of Fine Arts. His paintings are included in the collection of the Library of Congress, as well as those of many political figures including former presidents Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton. He lives with his wife, Ms. Wang Honglin, in Bethesda, MD.
