《禪荷》以現代水墨方式呈現抽象的荷花形象。整體已經難以看出花的形象，但從整體畫面來看，运用大塊的色塊，笔法豪放大气隱約能夠看到荷花的影子。淡紅色和藍色在畫面中非常顯眼，與墨色背景形成對比，象徵佛家「頓悟」的一刻。
下半部是大片黑色潑墨，底部墨色較深。營造出一種仙境的感觉， 有種荷花飛仙的佛教頓悟成佛深意。
建議：和《雲破月來花弄影》一同對比分析。張大千的潑彩和呂壽琨的作品潑墨手法的不同。
Zen Lotus represents an abstract image of lotus in modern ink painting. While it is hard to identify the natural appearance of lotus flower in the painting, the overall composition, which is consisted of large patches of ink and colours, evokes imagery of lotus rendered with bold and expressive brushwork. Contrasting with the background mainly rendered in gradations of black ink, the light washes of pale red and blue, reminiscent of an enlightening moment in Buddhist terms, look prominent in the picture.
The lower part is lavishly rendered in the splashed-ink style. In particular, the darker ink washes at the bottom of the picture represent the realm of immortals. The composition evokes Zen imagery: the lotus is elevated as the immortal at a moment of enlightenment.
Recommendation:
Ask students to compare and contrast this painting with Lotus at Night with a focus on how Zhang’s use of splashed-colour technique is different from Lui’s splashed-ink technique.