Pine Tree and Stream
Artist
Chang Dai-chien
(Zhang Daqian; Chinese, 1899 - 1983)
Date1971
MaterialsInk on paper
DimensionsH. 50 3/8 in × W. 25 1/2 in, H. 128 cm × W. 64.8 cm (image), H. 85 3/8 in × W. 33 1/4 in, H. 216.9 cm × W. 84.5 cm (overall)
Credit LineGift of the artist
Object numberB75D1
DepartmentChinese Art
ClassificationsPainting
On View
Not on viewSigned“張爰之印”（白文方印）、“大千居士”（朱文方印）、“大千世界”（白文方印）、“得心應手”（朱文方印）。
Zhang Yuan zhi yin (square intaglio), Daqian jushi (square relief), Daqian shijie (square intaglio), dexin yingshou (square relief).
Inscribed“梅沙彌嘗題其畫云：待五百年後人論定。其然, 豈其然乎? 矇叟爰辛亥閏五月可以居並識。”
Plum monk [Wu Zhen, 1280-1354] once inscribed on his cloud painting: Let’s wait people to judge five hundred years later. It is true; can this not be true? Old man Yuan inscribed at Keyiju in the fifth lunar month of the xinhai year (1971).
More InformationA twisted pine tree turns above a stone and stream surrounded by thick brush. The seal “from heart to hand” —from which this exhibition takes its subtitle — appears in the lower left corner of this roughly painted composition. It identifies this work as one in which the artist’s “eye” is missing from the more commonly heard “eye to hand” expression. In fact, Chang’s eyesight was severely diminished during this time. The painting is compellingly bold: the heavily textured pine with curling needles is delineated with strength and the verdant undergrowth bursts with vitality. At this point in Chang’s artistic development, eyesight was not a prerequisite for making dynamic works of art. And fortunately his eyesight eventually improved.
