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Known as an eccentric individual,
Mi Fu (1052–1107) was a master painter
and calligrapher. He studied ancient calligraphy
and was well versed in the history and evolution of this art. In this handscroll,
he wrote out a poem he had composed while traveling in his houseboat on the Wu
River. Mi decides to use two styles of calligraphy side by side. The
first few columns of this poem (above) are in running script and describe the
easy passage of his journey. In running script the individual brushstrokes that
compose each character are abbreviated and often run together, giving the writing
a more relaxed and informal appearance. But
as the wind shifts (below left) and he must hire quarrelsome workmen to tow his
boat, Mi Fu's calligraphy changes to reflect his frustration as his boat runs
aground. The uncurbed force and speed of the cursive style evoke his anger. A
single character, "pull" (below right), in dry ink, fills an entire line as he
describes the unsuccessful attempts to free his boat from the mud.
| "Wind
shifts"; detail of Poem Written in a Boat on the Wu River |  |
"Pull"; detail of Poem
Written in a Boat on the Wu River |
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