Chao Er Dai

1970

Well

POST WINGS

This work depicts a daily scene of two fishermen by the riverbank. The lower part of the image features bold strokes that outline the shoreline and grass, with the figures standing on the bank, not working from a boat, but enduring the changes of the environment with their bodies as the wind and water interplay. The upper part, consisting of the sky and water surface, is composed of broad horizontal and vertical strokes, with brush marks resembling traces of wind and rain, suggesting the flow and instability of natural forces.

Zhao Erdai intentionally diminishes the scale of the figures, highlighting their cooperative relationship—one standing firm while the other observes the situation—each sharing the pressure of their environment. This arrangement reflects the unspoken cooperation and trust that exist among daily laborers.

Fishing here represents not only a way of aligning with the rhythm of life and waiting for responses but also serves as a crucial part of sustaining their livelihood. The act of fishing is not romanticized into a pastime, but rather integrated into the repetitive and realistic aspects of everyday life.

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