This work in semi-cursive script (xingshu) by Yu Youren reflects a profound command of Northern Wei stele aesthetics. The brushwork is vigorous yet rounded and fluid, while the character structures are expansive and monumental. Integrating the solidity of the stele tradition with the elegance of running script, the work exemplifies Yu’s distinctive “Yu-style”: an approach that is at once scholarly and refined. 

The text is drawn from Agriculture and Mulberry by the Southern Song poet Lu You:

 “Farming begins—yet not in haste;

A leaking roof mended, crumbling walls repaired.

Mountain songs rise and fall in natural rhythm;

Untamed waters meander freely into the pond.”

The verse conveys a quiet appreciation for agrarian life and the spontaneity of nature. An inscription at the lower left reads “Respectfully presented to Ms. Qiufang,” indicating that the work was created as a personal gift. More than a reflection of the artist’s inner world, this piece stands as a testament to the 20th-century synthesis of the model-book (tie) and stele-based (bei) traditions, embodying both artistic significance and historical resonance.