Qing Wang Peng Seal Script Album

Author: None
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Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: Wang Shu not only diligently studied ancient calligraphy in practice but also held a deep reverence for ancient traditions in theory. He proposed that calligraphy practice should begin with Seal and Clerical scripts, considering the mastery of these scripts as the "correct step" to enter the realm of calligraphy. He praised stone inscriptions and criticized printed editions, opposing the imitation of the "Dong family's vices" that prevailed in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. Having lived through the reigns of Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong, his calligraphic creations and theoretical views reflected the influence of the late Kangxi era's revival of epigraphy and served as a precursor to the flourishing of stone inscriptions after the Qianlong reign. Thus, Wang Shu played a pivotal role in the development of calligraphy during the Qing Dynasty, acting as a bridge between past and future traditions.
Wang Shu's Seal Script Album draws inspiration from the "Jade Pip Seal Script" of Tang Dynasty master Li Yangbing. The brushwork is round and balanced, with slender yet firm and subtle lines. The composition is rigorous and well-structured, with even and symmetrical distribution. The style is dignified and solemn. Although the strokes appear delicate and seemingly sparse, they are actually supple, ethereal, and powerful, with the force contained within. The movement is as swift as wind and smoke, clear and flowing, while the pauses are like the sharp edges of weapons, strict and disciplined. He adheres to rules yet breaks free within them, demonstrating stability and proficiency, reflecting the rationality and rigor of a scholar.
Wang Shu was a renowned calligrapher of the Qing Dynasty, famous for his seal script. His achievements corrected the decline of seal script after the Tang Dynasty, where ancient methods were lost and imitation became difficult. He rekindled the enthusiasm for seal script among many calligraphers in the Qianlong and Jiaqing eras, and was regarded as a key figure in reversing the Ming Dynasty's trend of valuing bizarre and eccentric calligraphy, restoring traditional methods, and ensuring the continuation of this art form.
This Seal Script Album is in paper format, comprising one volume with twenty-two pages. Each page measures 24.5 cm vertically and 14.5 cm horizontally and is preserved in the Anhui Museum.