Zhao Zhichen

CHINA, Zhejiang, Hangzhou; Qing dynasty

Zhao Zhichen, also known as Cixian or Xianfu, was an artist from Qiantang (present day Hangzhou). He was known as a master seal engraver, but he also composed poetry, painted landscapes and flowers, and wrote calligraphy in clerical, semi-cursive, and cursive scripts. At a young age, Zhao learned seal carving from Chen Yuzhong, and later studied under the well-known artists, Huang Yi, Xi Gang, and Chen Hongshou.
The seals carved by Zhao have neat and simple square designs, and are carved with fine, elongated lines. There are usually inscriptions in semi-cursive and regular script along the sides. Zhao is recognized as one of the Eight Masters of Xiling for his mastery of the Zhe style of seal carving.
In his later years, Zhao became a Buddhist and began to paint religious images. His depiction of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva is listed in Collection of Calligraphy and Paintings by Seal Engravers. He also carved seals with Buddhist themes including Righteous Nature with a Chan Mind and True and Not False, the latter of which has part of the Heart Sutra inscribed on the side, as well as a seal collected at the Shanghai Museum.