Poem on Growing Old 1450 - 1524

"Poem on Growing Old" is a calligraphic work by Wang Ao, a prominent Chinese painter and poet of the Ming dynasty. This delicate fan, made around 1450–1524, features Ao's elegant and fluid brushstrokes on a textured paper ground. The poem reflects on the passage of time and the inevitable aging process, capturing the quiet contemplation of a learned scholar. The work is now a part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, showcasing Ao's mastery of calligraphy as a distinct art form.