Deng Sanmu

CHINA, Shanghai; Qing dynasty

Originally named Juchu, Deng Sanmu was a seal engraver and calligrapher. He was born in Shanghai and later lived in Beijing. In his early days, he studied western-style painting, but was also adept in traditional Chinese ink painting, especially painting bamboos and lotuses. Also proficient in composing poetry and verse, he wrote a collection entitled, Selected Poems and Verses of Deng Sanmu. Deng made several important contributions to the art of seal carving throughout his entire life, having carved over 5,000 seals; he also produced numerous seal scripts and works of calligraphy, including more than 50 written publications on seal inscription and calligraphy.
Deng studied calligraphy under Xiao Tui’an. His running and cursive script calligraphy was modeled after several famous calligraphers including Wang Xizhi, Wang Xianzhi, Zhang Xu, and Huaisu. As his skills developed, his writing style became free and expressive. Later in life, however, he often reverted to a more subtle and conservative style. Deng’s works in clerical script were modeled after ancient stele inscriptions of the Han dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE), and he is known to have written the horizontal inscribed board at Jingci Temple in Zhejiang.
Of equal repute to Qi Baishi in the art of seal carving, Deng studied under Zhao Shi, and produced various types of traditional seal works. His seals display an uninhibited expression that embody a modest yet bold artistic concept. Distribution of red and white color is spread uniformly and the engravings comprise deep cuts and grazes. The border design of the seals is flexible with a mixture of styles. His Buddhist seal works are wide-ranging and include Homage to Amitabha Buddha and Brahma’s Degradation to the Human World.