Scholar with Cane

Zhang Daqian and Pu Ru, both talented artists in their own right and possessed completely different styles in terms of painting, poetry and writing. Whilst Zhang was born of rather humble origins yet grew to be ostentatious and painted with grandeur, Pu Ru was born of royal descent yet his paintings were simplistic, elegant, and always showed restraint.
In this piece, Pu Ru painted the scholars while Zhang painted the background. The scholar's face is pure and simple, while the background locates the scholars in a landscape that seems to stretch beyond the confines of the paper. The inscription further articulates their mutual affection and admiration.