A Chinese watercolor and ink painting on paper of three children at play by Pu Ru. The painting has an inscription and three seals, and it is mounted on a silk backing. Dimensions are: 29 1/2 inches tall X 12 3/4 inches wide, 74.9 cm X 32.4 cm. All measurements are approximate. Condition: There is significant, severe spotting present throughout. A reminder that all lots are sold as-is. We have sought to record the changes in the condition of this piece after its initial manufacture as diligently as possible; however, as stated in our terms, condition reports are statements of opinion and not representations or warranties. Oakridge Auction Gallery bears no responsibility for any error or omission. Provenance: From a private collector in the Washington, D.C. area. Notes: Pu Ru (1896-1963) has captured the essence of innocence in this masterful painting. Of course, part of this innocence is embodied in the subject of the piece: three children frolicking together with kites and toys. Two children rush towards the viewer, their hair and clothes fluttering behind them and their eyes trained upwards on their swirling kites. The third child releases his wheel toy to race along with the other children. They all exude speed and energy, displaying through their playfulness an uninhibited, carefree attitude towards life.Yet, the painting's theme of innocence is only partially attributable to these happy children. The rest is conveyed through the piece's composition. It is infinitely simple--just the children and their toys in a paper-white void--but the negative space here creates a positive effect by mirroring the attitudes of the children themselves. In this moment captured by Pu Ru, the children are totally focused on their play, with seemingly nothing else on their minds. The ground, the sky, and their surroundings have all fallen away from their attention, just as they have in the painting itself. In the world of this painting, only play exists. Even the artist's brushstrokes are clean and simple, showing pure intent with pale watercolor accents.Few other contemporary paintings have such a clear theme as this simple masterpiece by the legendary Pu Ru.溥濡：溥心畬，愛新覺羅氏，鑲藍旗，道光皇帝曾孫，恭親王奕欣後裔，溥字輩，光緒帝賜名儒，初字仲衡，改字心畬，自號羲皇上人、西山逸士，齋號寒玉堂，自稱「舊王孫」。 款識：春日兒童戲，平郊放紙鳶。春春芳草地，一線界春天。春風箏韻細，喜氣滿城中。辛巳秋八月，西山逸士溥濡。 鈐印：舊王孫（朱）溥濡（白）只可自怡悅（朱） 在溥心畬的人物畫中，高士、仕女和鐘馗是三大宗，從數量上說，嬰戲創作更少，但因其超強的趣味性，很能反映舊王孫未泯的童心。溥氏此題材作品可見《捕蝶》、《元宵嬰戲歡》、《喜蛛圖》、《學步圖》等，大多為袖珍小品。拍品繪嬰孩三人，居中放紙鳶的小童是通幅的主角。他身著綠色罩衫，胸前系著藍色絲帶，一手拉著風箏線，一手拿著線筒，舉目望向空中。一根細勁的長線貫通畫幅，連接著高處隨風舞動的風箏，風箏為魚形，顏色漂亮。另有一著綠衫紅褲的兒童手持風箏線，放著一八角帶穗風箏，還有一兒童也正在玩耍著。整幅畫面淡雅樸素，彰顯出舊王孫獨特的審美氣質。Similar examples by Pu Ru were recently sold by Christie's Hong Kong on November 29, 2021, as lot 1185; by the Beijing Chengxuan Auction Company on June 1, 2019, as lot 25; and by Beijing Rong Bao Auction in their Fall 2018 sale as lot 375. 溥心畬畫嬰孩題材甚少，可參閱以往拍賣成交。見佳士得香港2021年11月拍賣，編號1185；北京誠軒2019年春拍，編號025；北京榮寶2018年秋季拍賣，編號0375。High resolution photos can be found here.