石渠寶笈續編(御書房),第四冊,頁19841987&*故宮書畫錄(卷六),第四冊,頁36&*故宮書畫圖錄,第二十二冊,頁184-189&* 沈周(西元一四二七-一五○九年),江蘇長洲人。字啟南,號石田,又號白石翁。為人寬厚有大度,能詩文,工書法,又善山水,並兼工墨畫花果、翎毛等。 本幅選自沈周六十八歲所作「寫生」冊中的第四幅,用意精而筆墨不羈。以大筆揮寫荷葉,水墨淋漓交融,蘆葉用筆勁利,待放荷花則用淡墨勾畫,並稍加暈染,雖淡白猶勝艷紅。葉心上正蹲踞的水蛙,更為此作憑添了無限生趣。 &*Frog and Lotus Shen Chou (1427-1509) Ming Dynasty Shen Chou was a native of Soochow known for his talent in poetry, literature, calligraphy, and landscape painting. He also painted other subjects, including flowers and animals in monochrome ink. This is the 4th leaf from Shen Chou’s Sketches from Life, which was done in 1494 at the age of 67. Spirit and brushwork are both unrestrained here. Broad strokes define the lotus leaves and blend with the darker ones for the veins. The strokes delineating the reeds are more forceful and contrast with the ephemeral blossom highlighted in white against the outlining washes of light ink. Though a monochrome work, the coloring of the scene seems to be amply suggested. In the middle of the lotus leaf crawls a small frog, adding an interesting touch.