Depicting each a sage and a child in a garden under a tree among rocks; at the top right, they bear inscriptions including the artist's signature Liu Xiren (劉希任).
Catalogue notes:
Liu Xiren was originally from Nanchang in Jiangxi. Passionate about painting from a young age, by the age of 30 he had already achieved a certain notoriety, in particular for his paintings of figures on porcelain plates.
See the four plaques sold at Christie's, Live Auction n° 2427, Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art Part I and Part II Including Property from the Arthur M. Sackler Collections, 24-25 March 2011, New York, lot 1828.
民国 刘希任画粉彩人物故事图瓷板
东篱种菊、北苑梅华
刘希任(1906-1967)斋名再思轩、永华堂等,民国后期著名的瓷器艺人。其艺术生涯中以粉彩人物见长。刘希任人物画造型准确,神态飘逸洒脱,衣纹勾勒更见功力。风格与王琦相近,晚年常绘花鸟及雪景。