Poem

明 倪元璐 行書五言詩 軸 絹本

This calligraphy is an outstanding example of Ni Yuanlu’s idiosyncratic mature style. In many places, Ni let his brush dry out before reloading it with ink, which created sharp contrasts between wet and dry, light and dark. Ni moved the brush in choppy, staccato motions to produce surprising—even awkward—angular twists and turns. The overall effect is both powerful and quirky, a deliberate affront to smooth elegance.

The poem reads:

The reflection of the bridge looks like a long piece of silk;
The fat toad taunts the skinny colt.
After ten mountains, there appears a stream;
Buddhists to the east, butchers to the west.
Stalks of bamboo invite clouds to be their guests;
Flowers entrap butterflies, making them their captives.
Lovely is the scent of wine wafting from the shop!
Fortunately I still have three coins on me.

—Trans. by Shi-yee Liu

Ni, who served the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) court in its waning years, lived during one of the most troubled periods in Chinese history. Some scholars see the turbulence of his calligraphic style as a mirror of his times—an artistic response to tragedy. In 1644, when the Ming fell, Ni committed suicide in solidarity.