My Buddha

CHINA; Qing dynasty

The term “Buddha” means the enlightened one or the knowing one, and can refer to any great sage who is enlightened to the truth. Most often implying Sakyamuni Buddha, “My Buddha” can also be used to suggest all Buddhas in general.
The two elongated characters are extended vertically across the square seal; the top being dense and the bottom sparse. Border lines are vigorously carved in varying degrees of thickness, breaking at certain points to provide breathing space. While the seal appears simple, there are visual complexities upon further observation. For example, the top right dot of the character on the right side, “wo” (my), and the bottom of the far left stroke of the character on the left, “fo” (Buddha), are incorporated into the border of their respective corners; as a result, they diagonally correspond to one another and aid in rendering a balanced composition.
Wu Changshuo was a seal engraver, calligrapher, and painter of the late Qing dynasty (1644–1911). He was known for employing calligraphic methods and other unique styles into his paintings.