清 法若真 行草書畫說 卷|Discourse on Painting

Fa Ruozhen

dated 1667 · Handscroll; ink on paper · Asian Art

Fa Ruozhen served as a government official during the Ming dynasty; after the fall of the Ming, he broke with his compatriots, many of whom remained loyal to the defeated dynasty, to serve in the newly established Qing government. This handscroll, which he titled Discourse on Painting, is not a technical treatise but rather a reflective essay on what sort of person should pursue the art of painting. The highest good, says Fa, is to pursue service to society through government. If, however, one is unskilled in practical affairs, one should then study the classics; only if one fails at that should one pursue the life of a painter. Fa knew of what he wrote: he not only served in government but also painted.

Artist

Fa Ruozhen

Date

dated 1667

Medium

Handscroll; ink on paper

Culture

China

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Bequest of John M. Crawford Jr., 1988