Selected Works from Zheng Xie
Zheng Xie, a remarkable figure in Chinese art history, was a talented painter, calligrapher, and poet known for his depictions of orchids, bamboo, and stones and his social consciousness. Born into poverty, he was adamant in his support of others facing the same struggle, even at the expense of his own position and status. After he became a magistrate in Shandong, he eventually found himself critical of life as an official. His refusal to fawn over his superiors and the criticism he later faced after building a shelter for houseless people left too deep a scar on him and led to his resignation after over a decade of work.
After his departure, he found himself deeply entrenched in his art. His art and calligraphy captured the essence of the natural world, blending meticulous brushwork with a profound appreciation for the beauty of his surroundings. He is known today for his repeated use of orchids, bamboo, and stones in his paintings. Orchids were, in fact, such a common motif in his work that they influenced the style of calligraphy he created. He called his style “six-and-a-half script.” It was a sort of hybrid script in every way; blunt but fluid, formal yet clerical, cursive and semicursive. He eventually became one of the Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou and even worked as an official calligrapher and painter for a short time.
He also found an interest in literature and poetry and preferred to write about ordinary people. Although he is most known for his paintings and calligraphy, his poetry is where his love and affection for men come through most clearly.
