Accession Number
2006/1.130.2

Title
Calligraphy, One of a Pair

Artist(s)
Chen Shu-chen

Object Creation Date
last quarter of 20th century

Medium & Support
hanging scroll, ink on paper

Dimensions
52 3/8 in. x 13 3/8 in. ( 133 cm x 34 cm )

Credit Line
Gift of Dr. Cheng-Yang and Mrs. Shirley Chang

Label copy
Gallery Rotation Spring/Summer 2012
Chen Shu-chen
China, 1908–2000
Two calligraphies
Last quarter of the 20th century
Hanging scroll, ink on paper
Gift of Dr. Cheng-Yang and Mrs. Shirley Chang, 2006/1.130.1 & 2
These two calligraphic works are by Chang Ku-nien’s wife, Chen Shu-chen, who was an accomplished painter and calligrapher. Written in semi-cursive script, they demonstrate the artist’s affinity for bold and well-defined lines. The text is a two-line poem distributed over the pair of scrolls and meant to be read from right to left; it praises one of China’s most important texts, the I Ching (Book of Changes), for offering an incomparable guide to understanding the past and future.

Subject matter
These two calligraphic works are done by Chang Ku-nien’s wife, Chen Shu-chen, who was an accomplished painter and calligrapher herself. Written in semi-cursive script, it demonstrates the artist’s affinity for bold and well-defined lines. The couplet of poetry, reads from right to left, praises the importance of one of China’s classics: There are many old books which have many special characters; yet only great I Ching (Book of Changes) shows us a path through past and future.

Physical Description
Vertical hanging scroll of calligraphic text consisting of five Chinese characters in black ink, with artist signature and seal. One of a pair.

Primary Object Classification
Painting

Primary Object Type
calligraphy

Additional Object Classification(s)
Painting

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.

Keywords
calligraphy
hanging scroll
ink