明/清 佚名 倣阮大鋮 書法 扇|Calligraphy

Art Historical Context

This exquisite folding fan, transformed into an album leaf, showcases anonymous calligraphy from the Ming dynasty (8–1644), the distinctive style of R Dacheng (1587–1646), a renowned Ming literati, playwright, andigrapher. Rendered in ink on luxurious gold paper, measuring 7 x 19¾ inches (17.8 x 50.2 cm), it exemplifies the portability and elegance of fan art, a favored medium among China's scholar-officials for impromptu poetic inscriptions and displays of virtuosity. Ruan Dacheng's script, known for its bold, expressive strokes blending clerical and running styles, influenced countless imitators during the late Ming and into the Qing era. Fans like this were not mere accessories but cultural artifacts—unfurled at gatherings to impress with wit and brush mastery, reflecting Confucian ideals of refinement. The gold ground enhances the ink's vibrancy, a technique symbolizing imperial splendor and auspiciousness. Acquired through the John Stewart Kennedy Fund in 1913 and housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Asian Art Department, this piece invites visitors to appreciate the enduring reverence for calligraphy in Chinese culture, where the written word transcends paper to embody the artist's spirit.