TANG TUO (1871-1938)
Five-character Calligraphic Couplet in Running Script
A pair of hanging scrolls, ink on paper
Each scroll measures 143.5 x 38 cm. (56 ¹⁄₂ x 15 in.)
Inscribed and signed, with two seals of the artist
Dated forth month, Yichou year (1925)
Dedicated to Fenglou

NOTE:
Tang Tuo, formerly Chenglie, styled as Ziquan, Quren, was a well-known calligrapher in modern China. A native of Wujin, Jiangsu, Tang Tuo was highly proficient in plaque-writing, particularly known for his “Tang Style” at the time. He devoted himself to printing techniques and publishing in his middle age and studied in Japan for three years to learn about advanced printing technologies. In 1912, Tang Tuo joined the Chung Hwa Book Company and served as the deputy director of the printing house until 1935.

Dr Kuo is a renowned ophthalmologist in Taiwan. He was born into a family of doctors in Chiayi, Taiwan. Dr Kuo also graduated from the Taipei Medical College and served as the Chief of Ophthalmology at the Taipei Renai Hospital. His father studied Chinese and specialised in calligraphy, influencing Kuo to take an interest in Chinese culture, history and art. While practising medicine, Kuo often learned at the National Palace Museum in Taipei and began collecting paintings and calligraphy by well-known artists and celebrities and ancient artefacts. Kuo managed to build an extensive private collection, which works from it was later passed down through the family.