The angry ducks of a Ming prince

Bada Shanren 八大山人 (朱耷), Lotus and Ducks (colophon by Wu Changshuo 吳昌碩), c. 1696 (Qing dynasty), ink on paper (hanging scroll), image 185 x 95.8 cm (Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution).
Speakers: Stephen D. Allee, Associate Curator for Chinese Painting and Calligraphy, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution and Steven Zucker

[@AsdfgAsdfg-zz5cn]

I really enjoy your videos on Asian artworks! Of course the ones about Western art are excellent too

[@justanobody9111]

Agree, wish to see more on Asian art

[@Sasha0927]

Bada Shanren is such a cool name. I can only imagine how annoying I'd be if we were friends: badadadabadadada 😂❤
Daoism kinda resonates with me. I often find myself taking lessons from "the natural order of things." The lotus reminded me of myself. Lots of beauty up from the muck.
I shouldn't laugh, but those ducks do look pissed, lol. It's definitely the upturned pupils.
I was more tired than this video deserved, so I might rewatch tomorrow. 🙃

[@robertschlesinger1342]

Very beautiful Chinese painting, and interesting calligraphic commentary on the left side of the painting.

[@giantred]

Yes, I found that strange. The best equivalency I could think of to express my feeling is that it would be a bit like someone writing about the current situation of Basque separatists on Guernica.

[@stini334]

But why was it written directly on the painting? Doesn't that ruin the composition of the original piece?
I'm not very familiar with Chinese art so I would love to hear an explanation for this!

[@AsdfgAsdfg-zz5cn]

Stini I’m not an expert obviously but from what I’ve heard writing and drawing are not seen as distinctly different practises in Chinese art, but rather ’two sides of the same coin’. Intellectuals would practise both calligraphy and landscape drawing, to express philosophical ideas and beauty

[@CarsoKingso]

@@stini334 it's typical in Chinese painting for new owners of an artwork to add their seal, an inscription, or a poem, and this is seen as adding to the painting by showing its changing meaning over time as well as its provenance.

[@stini334]

@@CarsoKingso What an interesting concept! Thank you for the explanation!

[@SnakeAndTurtleQigong]

Wonderful!
Sending gratitude from a Daoist monastery near Seattle!!
💙☯️🌲

[@shiva4ever]

What a treat!
Thank you.

[@auashe]

fascinating

[@janeknight3597]

ducks or cormorants?

[@lailawebster5778]

Does anyone know where to find a translation of Wu Changshuo's inscribed poem on the piece?