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Calligraphy after ancient masters

Calligrapher Dong Qichang Chinese

Not on view

明 董其昌 行書臨古帖 卷 紙本

This handscroll has five distinct pieces of writing, each in the manner of a different old master. Studying the past plays a central role in Chinese calligraphy and even as one develops a personal style, it is necessary to revisit the old masters to discover new insights. By the time he wrote these passages—the first two around 1595 and the remaining three around 1600—Dong Qichang had developed a unique style, and the work shows both his individual voice and his knowledge of calligraphic tradition.

Calligraphy after ancient masters, Dong Qichang (Chinese, 1555–1636), Handscroll; ink on paper, China

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