Partial copy of the Ode to the Stone Gate (Shimen song); Painting of red plum blossoms in the style of Jin Nong

Many calligraphers in Li Jian’s generation favored the study of ancient stone inscriptions, some of which remained in their original locations across the Chinese countryside. Often carved by unidentified authors, these monuments’ rough and direct quality was thought to have a strength and purity unrivaled by the famous brush artists recorded in official histories. The top fan here includes a short excerpt taken from the Eulogy to the Stone Gate (Shimen song), written in 148 CE, which appears to have been a favorite of Li’s.