Gazing at the Waterfall on Mt. Lu - Chen Jiru

A fine art print of a fan-shaped calligraphy work by Ming Dynasty scholar Chen Jiru, transcribing Li Bo's poem about Mt. Lu.

This piece presents a fan-shaped work of calligraphy by the Ming Dynasty scholar and artist Chen Jiru. The text transcribes the famous poem 'Gazing at the Waterfall on Mt. Lu' by the Tang Dynasty poet Li Bo. Chen Jiru was a prominent figure in the late Ming period, known for his retreat from official life to pursue painting, calligraphy, and writing. His calligraphic style often reflects the refined, personal expression characteristic of the literati tradition, where the brushwork serves as a direct extension of the artist's temperament.

The characters are executed with a fluid, expressive hand, demonstrating the rhythmic control required in traditional Chinese brushwork. The ink density varies across the strokes, creating a sense of movement that mirrors the subject of the poem: the cascading power of a mountain waterfall. The fan format, a popular medium for literati artists, imposes a specific spatial constraint that Chen Jiru navigates with balance and poise. The composition is anchored by the vertical orientation of the columns, which follow the natural curvature of the fan leaf.

Red seals, indicating the artist's identity and the work's provenance, are visible on the left side. These marks provide a historical record of ownership and authentication, common in the appreciation of Chinese ink works. The paper retains a warm, aged tone, which complements the dark, assertive ink. This print captures the subtle textures of the original paper and the nuances of the ink application, offering a clear view of the calligraphic technique. It is a representative example of how Ming scholars engaged with the classical literary canon through the visual arts, merging poetry and calligraphy into a single aesthetic experience.