Private Collection, Singapore

There is a horizontal fold mark at the center of the work and some creasing to the surface of the paper. All other inconsistencies of the surface of the paper are inherent to the nature of the medium. Please note that the original work is mounted on a scroll (measuring 169 by 59.5 cm; 66 1/2 by 23 1/2 in.). Framed, under plexiglass.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Executed two years after the artist’s second trip to Bali, Woman Holding Flowers by Cheong Soo Pieng is a transcendental portrayal of the beauty found in the everyday locale of Southeast Asia. Rendered in painstaking detail, Soo Pieng delineates the soft, feminine features of his subject, and imbues her dainty silhouette with almond lidded eyes and elongated, slender limbs; traits that are reminiscent of the stylized features of traditional wayang kulit puppets. Soo Pieng lends the framed woman with a dignified presence, whose calm demeanor enhances the meditative task of holding a basketful of flowers. Standing as a truly harmonious composition of movement and stillness, it is with this stunning piece that Soo Pieng exhibits his unmatched artistic versatility and expressive visual tongue, as he crafts a background so delicate that the wispy leaves and branches of the trees seem to fade into the fabric of the paper. Caught in a moment of serenity, the streamlined figure of the woman, set against the idyllic backdrop of vegetation, retains a quintessential visual harmony, as Cheong Soo Pieng balances every form and color to great effect, and creates a masterpiece of profound elegance and charm.