"I believe that all painters are realists for themselves. They are abstract for other people" - Zao Wou-Ki
 

Zao Wou-Ki is recognized for his remarkable proficiency in both Eastern and Western artistic traditions, adeptly employing these influences simultaneously within his work. Born in 1920 in Beijing, China, Zao studied at the National School of Arts in Hangzhou for six years, eventually serving as a drawing instructor there. In 1947, he relocated to Paris, where he formed meaningful friendships with prominent artists such as Alberto Giacometti and Joan Miró. His abstract, gestural style quickly garnered acclaim, positioning him as a pivotal figure in the mid-century art historical canon. Zao's work played a crucial role in reestablishing abstraction during a time when critics were questioning its capacity to convey the complex emotions and harsh realities of the post-war world. Through his innovative approach, Zao transcended cultural boundaries, creating art that resonates with a universal emotional depth. 

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Zao Wou-Ki was also a master printmaker whose styles and themes evolved across a five-decade practice. Zao embraced the unique aesthetics, techniques, and styles of this medium while investigating the connections between oil painting and printmaking as equally significant aspects of his oeuvre. In 1949, Zao made his first lithographs at the Paris workshop of Edmond Desjobert. He would later describe this initial foray into printmaking: ‘The idea of throwing colour on a large white porous stone, like on China paper, pleased me.'