SHA Qi / SADJI (1914-2005) The Parrot. Watercolour on paper. Signed. 45.5 × 33.5 cm. Provenance: Exhibition, 1941, la Petite Galerie, Avenue Louise. Note: A major work exhibited at the famous Sadji exhibition at La Petite Galerie, Brussels, in 1941, "The Parrot" embodies the virtuosity and poetry of the artist, a specialist in the dialogue between China and Europe. His lively, subtle brushwork celebrates the beauty of animated nature, and the theme of the bird occupies a central place in his artistic career. SADJI "The Chinese Van Gogh Sha Qi, known as Sadji in Europe, was born in Ningbo in 1914. Immersed in art from an early age, he entered the Chang Ming College of Fine Arts in Shanghai in 1929 and studied at the Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts in 1932. In 1934, the young man was accepted into the art department of Nanjing Central University, where he met his mentor, Xu Beihong (1895-1953), then professor and head of the art department. In 1937, after being recommended by Xu, Sadji left China to study Western painting at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Belgium. He studied under Alfred Bastien (1873-1955), a post-impressionist painter who focused on the effects of light and developed a discreet luminism. Sadji's work borrows from Post-Impressionism, Expressionism and Abstract Expressionism. In 1938, he was awarded first prize by the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts de Belgique. The following year, he graduated with the highest distinction, winning the "Gold Medal for Excellence in Art". He then spent ten years of his life in Europe and organised several exhibitions, including one in 1945 at the Petite Galerie. In 1946, suffering psychologically as a result of the Great War, Sadji returned to his native country, where he lived for the rest of his life. After a few years, the loss of his family plunged him into depression. Despite a difficult end to his life, he never gave up his love of and devotion to art. During his Belgian period, we can see the influence of Flemish Baroque painting in his portraits and the characteristics of realism in his landscapes. Condition: The work was professionally restored in June 2022 (cleaning, flattening, de-acidification and invisible consolidation; condition report available), guaranteeing a superb state of conservation and optimal presentation. Sadji inscribed a Chinese fable on the painting: "The frogs croak endlessly, but no one listens; the cock crows at dawn, and the world rises. Talking makes sense, but you have to choose your moment. This word reinforces the philosophical and universal depth of the subject. Rare on the market, this piece stands out for its provenance, its history, and its unique place in Sino-European modern art. SADJI, SHAQI, SHA Chi, SADji, SHAShi, SADJI