Artwork Page for Plum Tree

Details / Information for Plum Tree

Plum Tree

梅樹図

c. 1700

Ogata Kōrin 尾形光琳

(Japanese, 1658–1716)
Culture
Japan, Edo period (1615–1868)
Medium
hanging scroll; ink on silk
Measurements
Image: 94 x 35.4 cm (37 x 13 15/16 in.); Including mounting: 177.2 x 51.8 cm (69 3/4 x 20 3/8 in.)
Credit Line
John L. Severance Fund 1983.10
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
Print
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Did You Know?

The Rinpa style of painting is named for Ogata Kōrin, even though he did not create it.

Description

Ogata Kōrin had to think through his design carefully to create these white plum blossoms and deliver their effect, as he used the reserve technique—where selected areas of the painting surface are left unpainted—to achieve it. He probably roughed in the tree before applying an ink wash to the entire silk surface, except where he intended to place the flowers. He likely then returned to articulate the petals and, in some cases, the pistils and stamens. The composition shows the tree twisting out of view, only to return with a branch of new growth jabbing forth from an old, broken limb, thereby heightening the visual impact of the blossoms.
A vertically oriented hanging scroll depicts a plum tree in ink on silk. A thick branch enters from the upper left, then a thinner twig loops downward and ascends toward the right. Pale blossoms sprout along the branches. At the lower left, calligraphy and two red seals sit above a dark, textured base. Decorative blue floral silk borders frame the top and bottom, all against a muted tan background.

Plum Tree

c. 1700

Ogata Kōrin

(Japanese, 1658–1716)
Japan, Edo period (1615–1868)

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