兰雀图Orchids and Sparrows

A square sheet. A clump of orchids grows from a rocky bank at the lower left, the long leaves swept out in pale ink and blue-green, rising and turning, supple yet firm, crossing and parting in a pleasing rhythm; the flowers are pink-violet, dabbed in without outline, each with a dot of dark ink at its heart. The bank at the left is lightly rubbed in with pale ink and dotted with dark moss. At the top two sparrows flap and chatter, one with its beak open, the other fluttering round, their feathers in dry pale ink and their eyes dotted dark, lively against the quiet orchids.

The title at the lower right reads “Orchids and Sparrows”: the orchid is the flower of the gentleman, the sparrows bring cheerful liveliness, a picture of the elegance and life of the hills.

此为斗方。兰草一丛自左下坡石间生出，长叶以淡墨与青绿撇出，起伏转折，柔中带刚，交搭处疏密有致；花作粉紫，以没骨点染，花心浓墨一点，清逸雅致。左侧坡石以淡墨轻擦，浓墨苔点点缀其上。画顶麻雀两只，张翅鼓噪，一只张喙鸣叫，一只扑翅回旋，以干笔淡墨写羽，浓墨点眼，活泼生动，与静雅的兰草一动一静。

右下题“兰雀图”。兰为君子之花，麻雀寓活泼喜庆，写山野间的清雅与生趣。