Who painted Paintings after Ancient Masters: Chrysanthemum?

Paintings after Ancient Masters: Chrysanthemum was painted by Chen Hongshou in 1625-01-01.

Where can I see Paintings after Ancient Masters: Chrysanthemum?

Paintings after Ancient Masters: Chrysanthemum is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Paintings after Ancient Masters: Chrysanthemum?

Paintings after Ancient Masters: Chrysanthemum is associated with Chinese Orthodox School.

Can I buy a print of Paintings after Ancient Masters: Chrysanthemum?

Museum-quality prints of Paintings after Ancient Masters: Chrysanthemum are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Paintings after Ancient Masters: Chrysanthemum

Chen Hongshou , 1625

Paintings after Ancient Masters: Chrysanthemum is an unspecified painting by the Chinese Orthodox School artist Chen Hongshou. It dates from 1625 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

History & Provenance

The painting Paintings after Ancient Masters: Chrysanthemum, dated to 1625, is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art in Cleveland.

Created in 1625 in China, this painting is attributed to the artist Chen Hongshou. The work is currently held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is cataloged under the accession number 1979.27.2.17. While the specific circumstances of its commission and the details of its ownership history prior to entering the museum are not provided in the available records, the piece is recognized as a painting executed after ancient masters, focusing on the subject of chrysanthemums.

The painting Paintings after Ancient Masters: Chrysanthemum, dated to 1625, is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art in Cleveland. The work is cataloged under the accession number 1979.27.2.17. It is attributed to the artist Chen Hongshou, who created the piece in China during the specified year.

Context

Chen Hongshou's 1625 painting Chrysanthemum, housed in the Cleveland Museum of Art, reinterprets classical Chinese floral subjects through the artist's distinctive expressive brushwork and compositional simplification, reflecting Ming dynasty literati sensibilities while engaging with earlier master traditions. Art historical scholarship situates this work within the artist's broader exploration of nature as a vehicle for emotional resonance, contextualizing it among his significant contributions to early Qing painting conventions at the museum. Its placement in Cleveland's collection highlights the institution's strategic acquisition of key examples demonstrating cross-cultural transmission of East Asian artistic lineages.

Overview

Painted in 1625 by the Chinese artist Chen Hongshou, this work, titled Paintings after Ancient Masters: Chrysanthemum, is part of the collection at the Cleveland Museum of Art. It presents a single branch bearing three large chrysanthemums rendered in soft pink and white, set against an unadorned light‑beige background that isolates the blossoms for clear visual impact.

Subject & Meaning

The composition focuses on the chrysanthemum, a flower long associated in Chinese culture with autumnal resilience and noble character. By depicting the blooms in delicate hues and showing buds in various stages of opening, the painting underscores themes of renewal and the fleeting beauty of nature, inviting contemplation of the cycle of growth and decay.

Technique & Style

Chen employs meticulous brushwork to delineate the curvature of each petal and the veining of the leaves, achieving a near‑photographic realism. The fine, controlled strokes create subtle texture on the petals, while the restrained palette and smooth background emphasize the three‑dimensionality of the flora without distraction.