Passage from Tao Qian's "Returning Home" 1555 - 1636

This handscroll by Dong Qichang, a prominent Chinese artist and art theorist of the late Ming Dynasty, features a calligraphy piece titled "Passage from Tao Qian's 'Returning Home'". The work, dated between 1555 and 1636, is a testament to the artist's mastery of the calligraphic style known as "running script", which is characterized by its flowing and expressive strokes. It is currently housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. The inscription, taken from a famous poem by Tao Qian, expresses the longing for a simple and peaceful life away from the complexities of the world. Dong Qichang's calligraphy, with its elegance and fluidity, adds a layer of poetic beauty to the already evocative words, making this a highly sought-after piece of Chinese art.