Artwork Page for Ink Plum

Details / Information for Ink Plum

Ink Plum

墨梅圖

late 1400s–early 1500s

Peng Xu 彭勖

(Chinese, active 1488–1521)
Culture
China, Ming dynasty (1368–1644)
Medium
hanging scroll, ink on silk
Measurements
Painting: 127.2 x 66.8 cm (50 1/16 x 26 5/16 in.); Overall with knobs: 218.8 x 75.3 cm (86 1/8 x 29 5/8 in.)
Credit Line
John L. Severance Fund 1970.80
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
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Did You Know?

Plum trees blossom in the first months of the year; the delicate flowers endure the harsh winter frosts. A popular motif in Chinese ink painting, the plum symbolizes the winter season and is a harbinger of spring.

Description

Seasonal paintings, including those depicting flowering plum trees in early spring, furnished scholars’ studios or other interior spaces in the house.

Peng Xu is considered the foremost follower of the famous plum blossom painter Wang Mian (1287–1359) (see CMA 1974.26). The branches are brushed in the same vigorous manner leaving white streaks in the ink indicating the gnarled bark. The delicate blossoms are drawn in fine lines, while a gray wash covers the entire surface, only leaving the flower petals in reserve.
A vertical hanging scroll on tan silk depicts thick, gnarled black-inked plum branches sweeping downward from the upper left and right. Spindly twigs sprout from the limbs, sparsely adorned with small, pale flowers against the muted beige background. The composition is framed by decorative blue fabric bands with circular patterns at the top and bottom. Small, dark dots represent buds along the textured branches as they curve toward the center.

Ink Plum

late 1400s–early 1500s

Peng Xu

(Chinese, active 1488–1521)
China, Ming dynasty (1368–1644)

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