MISTY PEAKS OF MOUNT HUANG

This landscape was the first Chinese painting Jane and Leopold Swergold acquired. Recalling the genesis of their Chinese paintings collection, Mrs. Swergold remembers: "In 1996 we happened upon a group of Chinese paintings at an auction exhibition and were drawn to the peaceful representation of nature, as well as the skill of the artists who captured so well the grandeur of nature. We had never looked at Chinese paintings before, although we had already been collecting Chinese sculpture and archaic bronzes. Wang Xizhen's image seemed to invite us into the scene, a landscape unlike any with which we were familiar. The technique of ink on paper was also different from any we knew in Western painting. We purchased this painting and began our fortuitous venure into the world of Chinese landscape painting. It was one of our favorites to hang in our entry as a greeting to our guests."