Standing Buddha

CHINA

This picture was painted by Wu Changshuo when he was 71 years old. The bare-footed Buddha is painted against an empty background. He has curled hair, long ears, and full cheeks. The hands are joined, forming the dhyana (meditation) mudra in front of the stomach. The red monastic robe is depicted using the “mogu” (boneless) technique: a wash of colors without an outline.
The long poetic inscription on the left describes Wu’s wish to take refuge in Buddhism during a period of turmoil. It is carefully positioned, combining with the image to form a single, balanced composition. Together with the seal imprints at the bottom of the inscription, this artwork shows mastery in four different art forms: painting, poetry, calligraphy, and seal engraving.