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Calligraphy, the art of handwriting, is regarded in China as the highest form of visual art. Its artistic and expressive qualities are independent of the meanings of the written words. This piece of calligraphy is in the form of a poem; a seven character quatrain written in four columns of semi-cursive script, read from right to left, top to bottom. The poem which was composed by Chen and written for a friend can be translated as follows:The Plum blossom study is crowded by chariots of war,I have already lost my home but my uncle has a house;In dreams, I go to the plum-blossoms and wake up in the studyBut thick frost and light snow have finished the blossoming plums. The poem is followed by the artist’s signature and inscription: ‘Hongshou wrote this for the appreciation of Erfu, elder brother in poetry’ and two artist’s seals. The poem is autobiographical and has political undertones. Chen speaks of the devastation brought about by war. Symbols of nature and literary puns are used to express different levels of meaning. The plum blossom, mentioned three times in the poem, symbolises the strength to survive under harsh conditions, as it has the power to regenerate itself. After surviving the cold winter, the prunus is the first tree to bloom in early spring, often before the snow has melted. Frost and snow are here used to signify the hostile elements that prematurely destroyed blossoming plums. The last character hua , meaning `blossoms’ in `mei (plum) hua (blossoms)’, also means `China or Chinese civilisation’. By implication, like the plum blossom, China will survive the foreign rule of the Manchu barbarians, in spite of the hostile elements of snow and frost, and will regenerate. In the semi-cursive style of calligraphy, Chen expresses his inner anguish with elegance and restraint. The character can (reading from right to left, second character from the bottom of the third row), meaning `remnant, remaining or light’, is written in soft, light ink, in almost one continuous brushstroke. The brushstrokes and tonal textures of ink are evocative of the resonance of the life force (qi in Chinese, pronounced `chee’) of nature, and the spontaneous movement of the brush reflects the natural flow of the artist’s life energy.Text by Dr Mae Anna Pang © National Gallery of Victoria, Australia

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Artist Biography

early life and artistic development

chen hongshou, a prominent chinese painter, was born in 1598 in zhuji, zhejiang province, during the late ming dynasty. his courtesy name was zhanghou (章侯), with pseudonyms including laolian (老莲), fuchi (弗迆), yunmenseng (云门僧), huichi (悔迆), chiheshang (迆和尚) and huiseng (悔僧). under the tutelage of lan ying, chen honed his skills in painting peculiar human figures, landscapes, flower-and-bird art, utilizing plump, profound brushwork and precise color.

artistic style and notable works

chen's unique style set him apart from his contemporaries. his masterpieces, "shui hu ye zi" (水浒叶子) and "bo gu ye zi", are rare examples of the ming and qing dynasties' artistic excellence. these works showcase his skill in capturing the essence of traditional chinese art.

museum collections and worldwide recognition

chen's works are preserved in museums globally, including:

appreciating plums, guangdong provincial museum
man holding ganoderma lucidum
an elegant gathering, shanghai museum
drinking wine in the garden, shanghai museum
landscape of pine valley, shanghai museum
tao yuanming, honolulu museum of art

chen's legacy extends beyond his art; he was also skilled in calligraphy, poetry, and prose.

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