ZHANG GUCHU (1891-1968) / MA WANLI (1904-1979)
Sichuan Landscape / Wisteria and Chicken
Two hanging scrolls, ink and colour on paper
1. ZHANG GUCHU
Sichuan Landscape
81 x 40 cm. (31 ⁷⁄₈ x 15 ³⁄₄ in.)
Inscribed and signed, with one seal of the artist
Dated gengyin year (1950)
Dedicated to Jianlu

2. MA WANLI
Wisteria and Chicken
114.5 x 38.5 cm. (45 ¹⁄₈ x 15 ¹⁄₈ in.)
Inscribed and signed, with two seals of the artist
Dated spring, dingchou year (1937)
Dedicated to Guoning

Cheng Kinlo (1892-1980), courtesy name Zijian, also known as Yupi and Jiaqi, was born in a scholarly family in Guangdong. He and his sixth brother, Marcus C.C. Cheng (1898-?), were in charge of Chung Hwa Book Company’s business in Hong Kong and Macau in the 1930s. His family has been running a tea business in Fujian for decades, and thus they had a deep friendship with the local gentry and cultural figures.

Cheng Kinlo served as the principal of Guishan Public Primary School in Xiangshan County, Guangdong in his early years. He travelled to Shanghai in the early 1920s and served as the sales director of Nanyang Brothers Tobacco Company, founded by patriotic businessmen Jian Zhaonan and Jian Yujie. During his tenure, he met Huang Manshi (1890-1963), who was also working in Nanyang Brothers Tobacco Company, and the two became working partners and close friends.

In the early 1930s, Cheng Kinlo was recruited by Lu Feikui to join Chung Hwa Book Company, and served as the director of the South China Region, overseeing the eight branches of Fujian, Guangdong, Shantou, Hong Kong, Singapore, Xiamen, Yunnan and Wuzhou. He stationed in Hong Kong and oversaw the construction of the Hong Kong printing factory.

Cheng Kinlo was well acquainted with the cultural circles, and had a lasting friendship with Xu Beihong (1895-1953). During the 1930s and 1940s, Xu Beihong often visited the Lingnan region. Whenever he was in Guanghzou, Hong Kong, or Macau, he was hosted by Cheng Kinlo and Marcus C.C. Cheng, and was introduced to the local cultural and art circles.