Page 101 - September 20 2021 Fabian Collection of Chinese Paintings Art Bonhams NYC

Su Renshan’s Sunset at Changjiang with a Hundred Poems, 1845 is 本幅為蘇仁山作於1845年之《長江夕照》圖卷，是畫家筆下罕見之橫
a rare horizontal handscroll by the artist, and a fabulous record of his 幅手卷，亦是其詩書作品的珠聯璧合之作。畫面起首頗具戲劇性，前
calligraphy and poetry. This painting opens in dramatic fashion with 景為巨石及峭岸環繞之竹叢與樹林。畫家在畫幅右上角自題畫題《長
a foreground fanning cluster of trees and bamboo surrounded by 江夕照》，粗獷曲崛，有隸書筆意。
boulders and the steep riverbank. In the upper right corner, the artist
titles the painting in a bold, angular calligraphy reminiscent of Han 當前景退去，畫面顯出深遠之處，蘇仁山的第二處題跋便於構圖邊緣
clerical script, “Sunset at Changjiang”. 處展開：
“乙巳之冬十月下旬二日画成，將午援筆，題百詠於下⋯⋯”
As the foreground recedes, revealing the deep distance, Su Renshan
begins a second inscription along the lower edge of the composition. 從此處開始，畫家沿著河流寫下如密林般的文字。當河岸則逐漸褪為
He writes: 兩條模糊的界線，書法題跋則逐漸進入了前景，甚至填滿了天空，最
終佔據了整個構圖。蘇仁山最後以再次署款收束全圖，而這次的題款
In the winter of the yisi (1845) during the tenth 則是以篆書寫就。
month on the 22nd day, I finished this painting by the
afternoon. I then picked up my brush and composed one
hundred poems below the river scene...

Thereupon the artist begins an outpouring of words, following the
river’s course, with the land eventually dwindling to two faint lines. The
calligraphy completely takes over the composition, encroaching still
further into the foreground and the artist’s words wrapping around to
fill the sky. Su Renshan closes the composition by signing the scroll
again, this time in seal script.

FINE CHINESE PAINTINGS | 97