Smoke River Overlapping Peaks Firm Poem Inscription - Selection of Ink Traces of Famous Artists of Different Generations (23)

Author: Sun Baowen
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2007-01-01
Features: Su Shi (1037-1101), styled Zizhan, styled Dongpo Jushi, was a native of Meishan (now part of Sichuan). Together with his father Su Xun and his younger brother Su Zhe, he was renowned for his poetry and prose, collectively known as the "Three Su." His calligraphy drew nourishment from the styles of the "Two Wangs," Yan Zhenqing, Liu Gongquan, Chu Suiliang, Xu Hao, Li Beibei, and Yang Ningshi, striving to innovate while inheriting tradition. When discussing his calligraphic art, he said, "My calligraphy is created with intent, fundamentally without method; each stroke is done freely, yet I often seek refinement." He emphasized expressing "intention" and pouring his emotions into the spontaneous strokes. Based on a profound understanding of calligraphic art, he used traditional techniques to create, enriching and developing them rather than merely imitating the ancients. In his early years, Su Shi studied the works of the "Two Wangs," later turning to Yan Zhenqing and Yang Ningshi in middle age, and finally to Li Beibei in his later years. He also extensively explored the works of other calligraphers from the Jin and Tang dynasties, forming a style that was both profound and robust. His calligraphy often employed oblique strokes and slightly flattened, rounded structures. This was also related to his grip—Su Shi held the brush in a "side-lying" manner, with the brush resting between his thumb and forefinger, similar to how one holds a modern fountain pen, which is why his characters lean to the right and appear flat and rounded. This book is one volume in the "Selection of Ink Traces of Famous Calligraphers Through the Ages," featuring seventeen ink traces by Su Shi, including the "Lithography of Li Bai's Immortal Poem," "Poem in the Style of Biancai," "Poem Inscription on the Poem of Chen Gong of the Ministry of Personnel," and "New Year Celebration Letter," among others, to delight calligraphy enthusiasts.
During the Northern Song Dynasty, the renowned painter and calligrapher Wang Shen created the long scroll ink painting "Smoke River Overlapping Peaks." His close friend Su Shi inscribed poems and calligraphic inscriptions on the painting, while Wang Shen responded with poems, revealing the deep friendship between the two. The painting was recorded in both Song and Ming dynasty catalogues. In the early Qing Dynasty, the Gao family exchanged an entire garden for this painting, and for over three hundred years, it remained lost. In 1957, the famous calligrapher and painting appraiser Xie Ziliao acquired this painting. Around the time he acquired it, some appraising experts believed the scroll to be a forgery. However, Xie Ziliao, who insisted it was authentic, sold some of his own Ming and Qing dynasty calligraphic works to purchase it. Later, the calligrapher and painting expert Zhong Yinlan, after years of research and analysis, provided irrefutable evidence to confirm the authenticity of both the painting and its calligraphy. In 1997, Xie Ziliao and his wife Chen Peiqiu donated the painting to the Shanghai Museum. It was appraised as a first-grade piece and became a treasured artifact of the museum.
The long scroll is made of silk, naturally aged and authentic, with a height of 26 centimeters and a width of 138.5 centimeters. The poems and calligraphic inscriptions by Su Shi and Wang Shen are published in their original size to allow calligraphy enthusiasts to collect and appreciate them. Due to limited expertise, the text annotations in this book are for reference only.