Description: 釋文:吉羊 款識:庚午夏仲,課餘遣興,歐介豪年畫於挹翠山堂 鈐印:歐豪年(白文)、挹翠山堂(朱文) Signed AU HO-NIEN in Chinese With two seals of the artist 《吉羊圖》是歐豪年先生庚午年(1990年)夏天所作,畫中寫雙羊垂柳,溪流於側,其中雙羊前者公羊,以側面寫之,畫幅右上加寫垂柳,以為點景,染以翠柳增添夏色,左側則寫母羊以為呼應,畫面左下寫以小溪流泉經過,以添畫面蒼潤之感。觀賞歐豪年的畫,筆筆都可看出其用心的經營,就算淡淡的一筆,也從不鬆散。他善用嶺南慣用的山馬筆,用其筆鋒於紙上,產生自然飛白的效果,在寫羊的輪廓與線條前,則用筆沾以清水,大筆寫出羊身的區塊,稱濕之時,以山馬筆沾濃淡墨以勾勒出線條,如此則有蒼潤而遒勁之感,一掃勾勒而產生呆板的線條,再調以硃磦與赭石或以濃淡墨,寫羊其前身與後背之色,羊身的陰暗面,前後輕重則可寫出對比。 最後,再題以篆書「吉羊」二字,古字祥字常寫作吉羊,以為吉祥之意。 This work was made in the summer of 1990, depicting two goats under a willow with a river on the side. The male goat was put on the front depicting a side portrait of the face. Right side of the work was placed with a summer willow shine with luscious green. A female goat was placed on the left echoing with the other goat, next to a stream, which enhances the balance and richness of colours in the painting. Au’s works were painted meticulously with Shanma brush, commonly used by Lingnan School of Art. Such brushwork creates a crispy light depiction. Water was used with the brush on the goat’s body, before outlining the goats’ bodies with ink. Brown and ochre was then used to depict the light and shadow of the body. Finally, the title was written in seal script, carrying an auspicious meaning.