Bidspirit auction | H. H. Means Large Oil

H. H. Means Large Oil on Canvas Chinese Portrait with Falcon and Birdcages 1980 - Large framed oil on canvas painting by the artist H. H. Means. The composition depicts two young men dressed in traditional Chinese Qing-style robes against a dark, tonal umber background. The figure on the right holds a large raptor, likely a peregrine falcon, while the figure on the left wears a red robe featuring a rank badge (buzi) with a bird motif. In the foreground, two birdcages are present: a domed cage containing a red-headed songbird and a rectangular cage containing a goldfinch. The painting utilizes Western realistic techniques to render traditional Chinese subject matter and ornithological details. The lower-left corner is signed in red paint H. H. MEANS. The reverse of the wooden stretcher is marked Means - 80. 43.5 x 53.5 inches.