Xiling Society of Printmaking 1963

Author: Wang Peizhi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-09-01
Features: Zhang Lu'an (1901--1962), styled Yanfu, styled Youjiao, styled Junying. Born in Cixi, Zhejiang. A renowned seal carver in Shanghai and Zhejiang, a member of the Xiling Seal Society. Known for his extensive collection; also famous for his skill in making "Lu'an Seal Paste," rivaling Xu Zheng'an, the master seal paste maker in Beijing, earning the nickname "South Zhang, North Xu." Originally the last owner of the private Hangzhou pharmacy "Zhang Tongtai," he also owned the "Yiyuan Ginseng Shop" on Nanjing Road East in Shanghai. Although Zhang Lu'an was involved in business, his primary focus was not on pharmacy management but on his deep love for calligraphy, painting, and seal carving. Throughout his life, he had a passion for collecting historical seal albums and seals, particularly albums, which numbered over 400 sets, making him a master collector, unmatched by few, and hailed as "the most renowned collector in the country." It is said that he once owned over 4,000 seals, including 20 seals made by He Xuyu, which he had collected and compiled into a set. Among his collections was the seal "Fangqing Shiqiu," originally owned by the famous Hangzhou seal and stone inscriptions collector Wei Jiasun. In his early years, he studied under Zhao Shuru (Shi Tong), initially learning the Zhe School style of seal carving before later aligning with Deng Wanbai (Shi Ru)’s style. He even spent a fortune acquiring Deng’s five-sided seal "Yan Yizang," treating it with great care. Zhang Lu'an was also highly talented in the field of seal studies, with several of his works published.
In 1959, when the Xiling Seal Society held a grand exhibition of to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Zhang Lu'an was invited to personally transport his collection to Hangzhou for the exhibition. During this time, he was deeply impressed by the enthusiasm of the society’s members in organizing the exhibition and their genuine passion for rare collections. He expressed his willingness on multiple occasions to donate his entire life’s collection to the Xiling Seal Society.