A pair of extremely rare drawings depicting Taiwanese Aborigines

Chinese or Japanese work, Taiwan (Formosa), circa 1744-1747, possibly earlier

Each drawing marked with a seal
Ink and colour on paper, H. 22.5 x W. 26 cm (each)

These are extremely rare depictions of 'Formosan' or Taiwanese Aborigines, the original inhabitants of the island. Typically, as seen on the present works, they can be seen wearing the feather headdresses and white and red coral beaded necklaces. Possibly these paintings are part from the series now found in the Museum of the Institute of History and Philology in Taipei, see: [object.no. 85361](https://museum.sinica.edu.tw/en/exhibition/15/item/290/)

Provenance:
Collection Li Ai Vee (1932-2021), Switserland

Ms. Li Ai Vee (李爱维, born Eva Anita Li, 1932-2021), was a Sino-German painter who settled in Switzerland and was an avid collector of Asian art, mainly Chinese and Japanese. Born in Shanghai, Li Ai Vee was introduced to painting by her mother, an artist herself. In the 1950s, she studied under prestigious painters, including Lin Fengmian (1900-1991) and Lu Yifei (1908-1997). She then spent a few years in Japan, where she became a disciple of the Zen master Rinzai Yamada Mumon Rōshi (1900-1988). In 1954, she was selected to paint bamboo scenes on the sliding doors of the Hiroshima Memorial. In 1958, Li Ai Vee left China and settled in Zurich, Switzerland. In 1965, she met the internationally renowned painter Zhang Daqian (Chang Dai-Chien, 1899-1983) and became his student. That same year, she received the Medal of the City of Paris in recognition of her art.