SIMONE GOUZE (France and China, notably, active late 19th early 20th century) ECOLE DES PEINTRES VOYAGEURS (SCHOOL OF THE TRAVELLING PAINTERS) Portrait of Huáng Yùlín 黄玉麟, a famous Beijing opera actor Pastel on paper Inscribed with a Mandarin Chinese inscription to the upper left (written by an European, likely the painter herself) identifying the subject and dating the pastel to 1922 (二十年) Signed to the lower right Stamped with the name of the artist to the back of the frame Framed with a glass Dimensions (the sole drawing as seen within its frame): 55 x 74,5 cm Notes: 1. Yulin Huang (Yulin Huang), formerly known as Qiong was born in Anping, Guizhou. Starting from the age of ten, he attended the famous Southern School of Master Huadan Qi Yanbing (whose stage name is “Green Peony”) and studied Peking Opera Huadan. Huang Yulin inherited the stage name of his teacher Green Peony, worked hard, and made great progress in his art. He is one of the “Four Greatest Artists of Southern Beijing Opera”, together with Zhao Junyu, Xiao Yang Yuelou and Liu Xiaoheng. 2. According to contemporary newspaper articles, Simone Gouze was the first European being who lived in the country of the Lolos. She travelled Asia extensively and produced numerous drawings, mostly with pastel on paper. During her whole life, she depicted her experiences, her favourite subjects being the peoples she met as well as still lives. In 1933, she made an exhibition of a selection of her works entitled “Visages d’Asie” (lit. “Asian Visages”) at the Saigon theatre. [INTERNET KEYWORDS] CHINA, CHINESE, QING, ANTIQUE, CERAMIC, PORCELAIN, PAINTING, SCROLL, JADE, DYNASTIE, JAPANESE, VIETNAMESE