Yang Wei-chen: Poem in Cursive Script

Yuan dynasty

Hanging scroll / ink on paper

Artwork : 107.3 x 35.0cm

Hanging scroll : 180.0 x 48.0cm

Yang Wei-chen (1299-1370), the renowned literati from late Yuan times, is also well known as a master of calligraphy. His uninhibited and unorthodox calligraphy style is comparable with works of calligraphy written by Ch'an Buddhist monks. He freely manipulates the brush fully emersed in ink, and even his airy dry brush strokes are distinctive. The work is Yang's only extant example in hanging scroll form. (Collection of the Shanghai Museum)