Chen Shizeng Seal Collection

Author: Zhou Xiaolu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2007-01-01
Features: Chen Shizeng, born in Jiangxi Yinnan (now Xiushui County, Jiangxi Province), was known as Chen Hengke, styled Shizeng, and also used the names Xiuzhe, Xiudao, Daoren, etc. He obtained ancient inscriptions unearthed in Anyang, hence named his study [Shiyang Stone Room]. He also found Tang Dynasty steles and similarly named his study [Tangzi Yi]. As his painting style admired Shi Tian, Shen Zhou, Shi Tian, Shen Hao, Qingxiang Shi Tao, Kunchan Shi Xi, and Shi Pang, he also named his study [Wushi Tang]. Additionally, he had other study names such as Huaitang, Rancangshi, Zaishanting, Zhesongting, and Jimeng Shuangjing An. He was a proponent of the late Qing reform movement, the grandson of Chen Baozhen, Hunan Provincial Governor, the son of Chen Sanli, a famous poet of the late Qing dynasty, the brother of Chen Yinque, a renowned historian, a classmate of Mr. Lu Xun, a close friend of Master Hongyi, and a mentor to Qi Baishi. He was a distinguished master of Chinese painting, art educator, and poet in modern Chinese history. Since the Qing Dynasty, with the increasing number and types of cultural relics unearthed, the art of seal carving by literati has been profoundly influenced as never before. Beyond the tradition of emulating the seals of the Qin and Han dynasties, they more broadly took Chinese artistic heritage attached to other cultural relics as subjects of imitation. Literati began to learn from bronze inscriptions, tile inscriptions, sealing clay, steles, and other artifacts. Emulating the methods of cultural relics seemed to become an awakening for seal carvers.