Property from a Japanese Private Collection
Previously in the Sōraikan Collection of Abe Fusajirō(1868-1937)
Su Shi is one of the most renowned figures in Chinese cuIture. Also known as Su Dongpo, Su Shi was a Chinese poet, calligrapher, schoIar, painter, and as well as an influential politician during the Northern Song dynasty, which lasted from 960 to 1127 CE. Being one of two surviving paintings by Su, Wood and Rock is a really rare and treasured work by the artist.
In the painting, Su Shi used dry brushstrokes to evoke a sense of grittiness for the rock, swirling, forming the texture of the rock through layering. Dry brushstrokes are also used to draw the tree trunk as it curls away from the rock, imitating the rough texture of desiccated tree bark. In contrast, the thinner tips of the tree branches, and the greenery peeking from behind the rock, are drawn with wetter brushstrokes. This adds a sense of vitality to the painting within a scene that would otherwise be quite barren.
Part of an extended scroll, the painting is complemented by calligraphy work written by Mi Fu, a contemporary of Su Shi who is a renowned painter and calligrapher.
Wood and Rock is one of the most expensive Chinese artworks sold in Asia when it was auctioned off at Christie’s in 2018 to a private collection.
“Wood and Rock” is a delicate work of art by Su Shi, the Chinese poet, calligrapher, schoIar, painter, and politician, working under the Northern Song dynasty. It is an exceedingly simple work of a small tree, leafless and dry, alongside a piece of rock. Despite a simple composition, what makes the work beautiful is how much Su Shi is able to accomplish with it. The Chinese saying of “ink has five colours” has its expression here, as different shades of the ink are used to create depth in the composition. The tree and the rock are also depicted interestingly, with the tree curling in unique patterns and forming sharp branches, and the rock depicted in a novel shape, thus displaying the impressive skill of Su Shi with simple elements.
