篆书四字扇面Four Characters in Seal Script (calligraphy fan)

A fan written in seal script, the ancient formal script of Chinese characters. Four characters stand from right to left across the sheet, every stroke drawn with the tip of the brush held upright at the center of the line, so the lines are even in width, rounded at the ends, and turn in firm curves. The second character spreads its top like outstretched arms over three upright stems; the third packs its verticals close together; the last stacks a squared top over several folded strokes.

The signature, in a running hand, and a square seal are at lower left, with an oblong seal at the right. Seal script is symmetrical and archaic in feeling; set along the curve of a fan, these four characters keep their poise while rising and falling in height.

此为篆书扇面。自右至左书篆字四个，以中锋行笔，笔画粗细匀一，起止藏锋，转折圆劲，线条浑厚。字形或屈曲盘旋，或纵横交织：次字上部伸展如人张臂，下列三竖并立；第三字竖画密排，上下贯通；末字上作方框，下列数重折笔，层层相叠，稳住左端。左下以行书署款，钤方印一枚，右侧另钤长方印一枚。

篆书为汉字古体，结构匀称，笔意古朴。以篆入扇，须顺弧势而不失端庄，此作四字参差有致，古雅之中别具生气。