The Red Cliff Ode, by Su Dongpo (1036-1101) 1600 - 1641

"The Red Cliff Ode" is a handscroll by Zhang Ruitu, a renowned Chinese calligrapher of the Ming Dynasty. This artwork, housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, features a flowing script in black ink on paper, showcasing Ruitu's masterful command of brushwork and calligraphy. It depicts an ode written by Su Dongpo, a famous poet and calligrapher of the Song Dynasty, in praise of the scenic Red Cliffs on the Yangtze River. The scroll's elegant script and evocative subject matter highlight the artistic tradition of Chinese calligraphy, which has been revered for its aesthetic and intellectual qualities for centuries.