Tao Lengyue, Liu Haisu Seal Impressions: Essentials

Author: Tao Weiyanyan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-06-01
Features: In the authentication of calligraphy and painting, the seal is an auxiliary evidence, but it is often a fatal flaw in a forgery. Discussing the level and character of brushwork and ink is subjective, leading to diverse opinions, and clear disagreements are often seen among national-level experts. Opinions on the authenticity of seals are relatively easier to unify, making the comparison of seals still irreplaceably important in today's collection and appreciation work. The comparison of seals primarily focuses on three aspects of "fatal flaws." First, check if the size of the same seal is consistent. Second, verify if the use of the seal is correct in time. Generally, after completing a work, the artist often seals their name under the inscription, meaning the name seal is pressed close to the completion time of the painting. Of course, there are cases where seals are added after several years, but this is more common with decorative seals. If an artist's early works bear their middle or late-life name seals, it warrants caution. Third, the usage pattern of the seal, mainly referring to decorative seals. For example, Xie Zhi Liu had several decorative seals with the character "luo mo" (ink dropping), used only on his ink-and-water flower-and-bird and landscape paintings from the 1970s onwards. If a 1940s Xie-style meticulous brushwork portrait is found with such a seal, it would be laughable.
Although the comparison of seals is a crucial step in the authentication of calligraphy and painting, using this method currently requires attention to three issues:
1. Be aware of forgeries improved with computer technology and zinc plate printing, which are almost indistinguishable from genuine seals.
2. Fully consider the different appearances of the same seal under varying conditions of ink pad dryness, thickness, and the force applied by the seal presser.
3. For some deceased contemporary masters whose seals are still scattered in private hands, it is essential to account for the possibility of painted-forgeries using genuine seals.