Lin Gao

CHINA, Fujian, Putian; Qing dynasty

Lin Gao was a seal engraver who was originally from Putian, Fujian, but later resided in Changshou, Jiangsu. He was also known by his aliases of Hetian and Xuetian. Since his youth, Lin diligently studied both large and small seal scripts. His seals, which emphasize sophistication, utilized a diverse layout of simple and complex patterning; composed of graceful characters produced with swift, clean, and strong knifing skills, the result was a balanced and orderly piece with a solid composition. His unique style is regarded as the Lin school, and together with the styles of Wang Guan and Shen Shi, Lin helped to influence what became known as the Yangzhou school of seal engraving.
His Buddhist seal, Realize the Right of Today and the Wrong of Yesterday, is a white-character rectangular seal with a solid appearance and steady construction. The white-character rectangular seal, To Whom is This Meaning Given, is also accredited to him. Lin’s seals were used by various well-known artists of his time, such as Wang Hui, Wu Li, and Yun Shouping. He compiled two publications, Record of Seals from Baoyanzhai and Record of Seals by Lin Hetian.