Couplet in running script

Object Details

• Artist

  Shi Lu 石魯 (1919-1982)

• Label

  Born into a book collector’s family, Feng Yayan adored the Qing dynasty painter Shitao (1642–1707) and the twentieth-century writer Lu Xun (1881–1936), so he changed his name to Shi Lu. He was a talented painter and established his individual style early in his career. Unfortunately, Shi Lu suffered from schizophrenia caused by the political turmoil of the mid-1960s and the Cultural Revolution (1966–76) in China. His tough character and eccentricity can be seen in his unconventional approach to his work. Instead of making an impression from an actual seal, for example, he drew a seal impression with a brush. The two lines are from a famous poem by Lu Xun and read:

  With a fierce frown, I could calmly defy a thousand men.

  Head bowed, I serve my people like a willing calf.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Children at Play in Chinese Painting (November 14, 2009 to May 23, 2010)

• Origin

  China

• Credit Line

  Gift of Robert Hatfield Ellsworth in honor of the 75th Anniversary of the Freer Gallery of Art

• Type

  Calligraphy

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1900s, 1980s

• Name

  Shi, Lu

• Place

  China

• Topic

  Art, Couplet, Chinese Art, Robert Hatfield Ellsworth collection, Modern period (1912 - present), Running script

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Calligraphy (visual works)