Tong Danian

CHINA, Shanghai; Qing dynasty

Tong Danian, originally named Tong Gao and also known as Xingan, was a seal engraver and painter. He began carving seals at the age of seven, and studied the six character-forming methods. His style of seal script was learned primarily from studying the works of the Han (206 BCE–220 CE) dynasty. He later broadened to incorporate the Zhejiang and Anhui schools, and also researched the works of famed seal artist Zhao Zhiqian. In addition, Tong was one of the founding members of the Xiling Seal Art Society.
Paintings by Tong, though few in number, still demonstrated significant artistic skill. In his seasoned seal engraving works, he preferred employing strong and powerful cutting techniques to produce a variety of patterns and forms that impart a delicate appearance. He authored two books on seal engraving entitled, Seal Traces of Yigu Cottage and Tong Seal Engravings. Tong’s Buddhist seal work, Profoundness of Avatamsaka, was a simple and unadorned white-character square seal. Wuyu Pavilion, a white-character square seal, is another seal work of Tong.