Description:

U SAN WIN (BURMESE 1905 - 1981)
By the Cliff, 1956
oil on board
26.5 x 32 cm (10 3/8 x 12 5/8 in.)
matte dimensions: 35 x 40 cm (13 3/4 x 15 3/4 in.)
signed and dated lower right

PROVENANCE
Property of a Gentleman, White Plains

LOT NOTES
U San Win was one of the foundational figures of modern Burmese painting, bridging the classical traditions of Mandalay with the early 20th-century rise of Western-style art in Myanmar. Born in Mandalay in 1905, he studied under Ba Nyan, the pioneer of modern oil painting in Burma, and became one of his most gifted disciples. San Win was among the earliest artists to experiment with plein-air realism and Impressionist color, establishing a distinctly Burmese interpretation of modern landscape painting.

Throughout his career, San Win remained committed to portraying the beauty of his homeland - from pagodas and rural villages to the dramatic topographies of rivers and cliffs. In By the Cliff, his mastery of light and atmosphere is fully evident. The monumental rock face dominates the composition in warm ochres and rose tones, balanced by the cool glimmer of water in the foreground. Figures at the river’s edge lend a human rhythm to the scene, emphasizing scale and serenity. The painter’s loose, confident brushwork and subtle tonal gradations evoke both immediacy and emotional depth.

San Win taught at the State School of Fine Arts in Yangon, influencing a generation of post-war artists who would carry forward the synthesis of European technique and Burmese vision. His works are represented in the National Museum of Myanmar and numerous private collections, valued for their lyrical realism and painterly vitality.

CONDITION
The painting is in good condition, minor surface grime, no visible issues to report. Not inspected under UV light.

N.B. Condition reports are available upon request. All lots are sold in as-is condition at the time of sale. Please note that any condition statement regarding works of art is given as a courtesy to our clients in order to assist them in assessing the condition. The report is a genuine opinion held by Shapiro Auctions and should not be treated as a statement of fact. The absence of a condition report or a photograph does not preclude the absence of defects or restoration, nor does a reference to particular defects imply the absence of any others. Shapiro Auctions, LLC., including its consultants and agents, shall have no responsibility for any error or omission.

Keywords: Burmese painting, Burmese art, Myanmar

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October 25, 2025 10:00 AM EDT
Bedford Hills, NY, US

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