On
a small island in the midst of a river grow three tall trees, including a
pine, a tree with round, red leaves and one with narrow, blue leaves. A
man stands under the trees wearing a violet robe and red shoes, his hands
clasped under his cloak. To the right, a young man with flowers in his cap
attends his master, holding a hu vessel in one hand and a basket of
flowers in the other. According to Ch'en Hung-shou's inscription, this is
a self-portrait: the figure standing in the center is Ch'en Hung-shou and
the boy at the side is his nephew. The artist wrote further:
When
we go out to the country for the day,
In
springtime, we are intoxicated by the peach blossom's radiant beauty,
In
autumn, we see the colors fade,
In
summer, we stumble under deep pines,
And
finally, in winter, we appreciate the pure, white snow.
'
All
things are related;
Leafing
through books over and over gives my soul a feeling of calm.
Beside
clear deep waters, I sketch pines and rocks;
If
what I say is attuned to the Tao,Then I can consume my fill unashamed.
The
inscription is signed and dated 1635, at which time Ch'en would have been
38 sui.
Ch'en
Hung-shou (tzu: Chang-hou; in his early years he used the hao Lien-sha-rni
but later adopted the names Lao-lien, Yun-men-sengand others) came from
Chu-chi in Chekiang. A gifted poet, calligrapher and painter, he included
in his repertoire figures, flowers and birds, grasses and insects, and
landscape, all painted with equal skill.
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