Untitled (Smile-ism No. 7), 2006

Lithograph in colors on wove paper. 31 x 45 inches (78.7 x 114.3 cm) (sheet). Ed. XX/45. Signed and editioned in pencil along lower edge Untitled (Smile-ism No. 7)" (2006) is a significant lithograph by Chinese contemporary artist Yue Minjun, representing a pivotal moment in post-1989 Chinese art. The print showcases Yue's iconic self-referential figure with its exaggerated grin, executed in his characteristic bright pink flesh tones against a stark background. The lithograph embodies the core principles of Cynical Realism, an influential art movement that emerged in early 1990s Beijing. Yue's laughing figure serves as a complex cultural symbol, simultaneously expressing and masking the psychological tensions of rapid societal transformation in contemporary China.  Through meticulous lithographic technique, the artist captures the paradoxical nature of forced happiness and social conformity. As part of the "Smile-ism" series, this work demonstrates Yue's masterful adaptation of his pai