Seven Character Couplet in Running Script《行书七言联》

Wu Hufan (1894-1968)
Wu Hufan was a celebrated artist born in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province. He was a talented poet, essayist, calligrapher, and painter, with various names and courtesy titles throughout his life. Wu was renowned for his immense art collection, as well as his mastery of calligraphy and painting. He held positions as a painter at the Shanghai Chinese Painting Academy, a Chinese painting teacher at the Shanghai Art School and the Zhejiang Academy of Fine Arts, and an associate professor at the Academy of Fine Arts of Shanghai University.

Wu Hufan’s calligraphy style was truly unique, blending the best aspects of Tang and Song calligraphy schools. He developed his own spiritual principles and combined the “thin gold style” with Mi Fu. His calligraphy was smooth, clear, and healthy, diverging from the commonly seen trends. One can witness this style in the couplet he inscribed with his name “Wu Hufan.” The inscription is accompanied by two chapters: “Wu Huhao Seal” and “Qianzhu Seal” in red. The volumes are juxtaposed with long and short volumes, and the jade pendants are connected in three rows.

吴湖帆（1894~1968），初名翼燕，后更名万，又名倩、倩庵，字遹骏、东庄，别署丑簃。江苏苏州人。工诗文，富收藏，擅书画。历任上海中国画院画师，上海美术学校、浙江美术学院国画教师，上海大学美术学院副教授，为现代久负盛名的书画大家、收藏家。

吴湖帆的书法融唐、宋诸家之长，得其神理，以“瘦金体”参合米芾自成一家面目，润朗清健、不同俗流，此联可见其书风之一斑。款署：“吴湖帆。”款下钤白文“吴湖颿印”、朱文“倩盦书印”二章。释文：册编并列长兼短，玉佩相连一贯三。