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Fragrance of the Past (Gu se jin xiang)

Photo: Elizabeth Mann

Fragrance of the Past (Gu se jin xiang)

1988

Chang Ch'ung-ho Frankel

Chinese, 1913 - 2015

Chang Ch'ung-ho wrote this vertical scroll in clerical script for the 1988 exhibition Fragrance of the Past at Yale University, which featured five artists (including C.C. Wang). As it was to be featured as a large display, Chang Ch'ung-ho wrote in a significantly bigger font than the small ones she is famous for, and sought to create a grand aura. She used a large sheep-hair brush saturated with ink to make each stroke bleed with rough and uneven edges, thereby evoking the sculpting effect of stele carvings. In this way Chang Ch'ung-ho powerfully captured the boldness and directness of Han clerical script.
Ink on paper
Overall: 67 15/16 x 17 11/16 in. (172.6 x 44.9cm)
Image: 39 3/4 x 12 3/4in. (101 x 32.4cm)
Gift of Mimi Gardner Gates and the Asian Art Acquisition Fund
2010.8.4
Provenance: Artist
Photo: Elizabeth Mann
location
Not currently on view

Resources

Exhibition HistorySeattle, Washington, Seattle Asian Art Museum, "Fragrance of the Past: Chinese Calligraphy and Painting by Ch'ung-ho Frankel and Friends", January 14, 2006 - April 2, 2006
Published ReferencesGates, Mimi, et al. Fragrance of the Past: Chinese calligraphy and painting by Ch'ung-ho Chang Frankel and Friends (Seattle: Seattle Art Museum, 2006), frontispiece

Chen, Guannan. “Xiyatu yishu bowuguan cang zhang chong he shuji ji shou canh ju ou.” Shu Yu Hua Volume 9, no. 276 (September 2015): p. 22-31, reproduced p. 23.

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