Su Shi, also known as Dongpo, was a famous artist and politician during the Northern Song dynasty. While banished to Huangzhou after being accused of slander, he produced some of his best writing, including "Odes of the Red Cliff" and "The Cold Food Observance." His style, combined with a colophon written on this latter work with flowing strokes by his contemporary and good friend, Huang Tingjian, makes "The Cold Food Observance" a unique treasure graced by two Northern Song masters.