Collection of Stone Drum Inscriptions《集石鼓文轴》

Wu Changshuo (1844–1927)
Born Wu Jun, with the courtesy name Changshuo and a variety of pseudonyms, including Cangshuo, Laogou, Kutie, and Fudaoren, Wu Changshuo was a distinguished artist from Zhangwu Village, Xiaofeng County, Zhejiang Province (now part of Anji County, Huzhou City). Renowned for his mastery in calligraphy, painting, and seal carving, Wu seamlessly integrated these art forms, blending calligraphy and painting into a unified expression.

A prominent figure in the late Qing Dynasty, Wu was celebrated as one of the “Four Masters of the Shanghai School” alongside Ren Bonian, Pu Hua, and Xugu. He was also the inaugural president of the Xiling Seal Society, a position through which he profoundly influenced subsequent generations of artists.

Wu Changshuo’s seal script drew inspiration from the works of Deng Shiru and Yang Yisun, while also tracing its roots back to the ancient Stone Drum Inscription. His innovation lay in transforming the square and calm forms of the Stone Drum script into a more dynamic and expressive style, full of vigor and variation. Wu’s brushwork, imbued with the flavor of metal and stone, retains a natural fluidity, becoming the hallmark of his unique aesthetic.

“Collection of Stone Drum Inscriptions”
This scroll, while often referred to as a copy, is in fact an original creation by Wu Changshuo. The brushstrokes are thick and bold, exhibiting a vigorous energy and a sense of grandeur. The characters are structured in a staggered arrangement, moving up, down, left, and right, which is a signature feature of Wu’s compositional style. The overall effect is one of strength and majesty, with the brushwork exuding both power and elegance. This work exemplifies the artist’s distinctive approach to calligraphy, blending traditional forms with his own innovative flair.

吴昌硕（1844—1927），初名俊，又名俊卿，字昌硕，号仓硕、老缶、苦铁、缶道人等，浙江省孝丰县鄣吴村（今湖州市安吉县）人。他集诗、书、画、印为一身，融金石书画为一炉，在书画篆刻上是宗师级人物，与任伯年、蒲华、虚谷合称为清末“海派四大家”。曾任西泠印社首任社长，后世影响极大。

吴昌硕篆书从邓石如、杨沂孙筑基，上溯石鼓文，变石鼓文方正平和为纵欹多姿，用笔金石气极浓，又不失自然，自成一派。此轴笔法沉厚浑朴，笔力雄健，气息沉郁雄壮。虽名为临摹，实为自出机杼的创作，结字以上下左右参差取姿，是其典型的风格面貌。