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Artist: Chen Xianzhang (1428-1500)
Date: Ming (1368-1644)
Material: Ink on paper
Chen Xianzhang (1428-1500), native to Xinhui in Guangdong, is also known by his zi (designated name) Gongfu and hao (literary name) Shizhai. He was also known as Baisha Xiansheng. This handscroll contains several farewell poems composed by the artist for his friends, including Liu Daxia, Xia Sheng, and Xue Gang. The brushwork is vigorous, powerful, and resolute, with dry strokes and "flying-white" effects (accidental blank spaces within the ink brushstrokes) that evoke an untrammeled natural charm. It is a representative masterpiece from his late period.
