1961 HU SHIH CALLIGRAPHY

拍品描述

Artist: Hu Shih (1891-1962) To reap a harvest, one must first cultivate and sow. Written in bold and vigorous brushwork, the phrase reflects Hu Shih?s lifelong emphasis on practical effort, intellectual discipline, and gradual achievement. The inscription embodies his belief that meaningful accomplishments arise from diligent preparation and persistent labor.The calligraphy is executed in a clear and unadorned style, emphasizing directness and sincerity rather than decorative effect. The large characters display strength and confidence, while the balanced composition reflects the scholar?s cultivated temperament and modern intellectual spirit.Calligraphic works by Hu Shih are especially prized not only for their artistic qualities but also for their historical significance. As manuscripts and inscriptions by one of modern China?s leading thinkers, they offer a tangible connection to the intellectual and cultural transformations that shaped twentieth-century China. Ink on paper, Ersebiao mount, Vertical Axis hanging scroll Painting (Sight): 67cm H x 32cm W Dated: On Third of November in The Minguo Fifty year (1961) Signed/Seal(s): Signed, with a seal PROVENANCE: Acquired from a prominent collector, representing an important private collections. The collections presented and offered up to auctions from Lot 25 through Lot 136; and additional related documents and or manuscripts from Lot 137 to Lot 228. Wei Tao-Ming (Wei Daoming), (October 28, 1899 - May 18, 1978) was a prominent Chinese diplomat, statesman, and senior official of the Republic of China. Born in Jiangxi Province, he studied law in the United States and became active in the Nationalist government under Chiang Kai-shek. During the Second World War, Wei served as the Republic of China's Ambassador to the United States from 1942 to 1946, playing an important role in strengthening Sino-American relations during the Allied war effort. He later held several key government positions, including Governor of Taiwan Province (1947-1949), Ambassador to Japan, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China from 1966 to 1971. Wei remained an influential figure in Chinese diplomacy throughout the mid-twentieth century and was closely involved in the Republic of China's international affairs during a period of major political transition in East Asia. ARTIST BIO: Hu Shih (1891-1962) was one of the most influential Chinese scholars, philosophers, and literary reformers of the twentieth century. Born in Anhui province, he studied at Cornell University and later at Columbia University under the philosopher John Dewey, whose pragmatic thought profoundly influenced his intellectual development.As a leading figure of the New Culture Movement and the May Fourth era, Hu advocated the use of vernacular Chinese in literature, arguing that written language should reflect everyday speech rather than classical literary forms. His call for literary reform helped lay the foundation for modern Chinese literature and greatly expanded access to education and intellectual discourse.In addition to his literary achievements, Hu Shih was an accomplished historian, philosopher, diplomat, and educator. He served as Chinese ambassador to the United States during the Second World War and later became president of Peking University and, subsequently, Academia Sinica in Taiwan.A prolific writer and scholar, Hu emphasized critical inquiry, intellectual independence, and empirical research. His studies of Chinese philosophy, literature, and intellectual history remain highly influential, while his advocacy of modernization and cultural reform made him one of the most important intellectual figures of modern China.Calligraphic works by Hu Shih are particularly valued for their scholarly significance and historical importance. His inscriptions and manuscripts reflect the elegance, simplicity, and intellectual spirit that characterized both his writings and his lifelong commitment to cultural and educational reform.

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