Artwork
源琦筆 燕姞・楊貴妃図|Yanji with Orchids and Yang Guifei with Peonies
源琦筆 燕姞・楊貴妃図|Yanji with Orchids and Yang Guifei with Peonies is an ink painting by the Baroque artist Genki. It dates from 1785 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The orchids and peonies are rendered in ink and color on silk, identifying the botanical subjects as Orchideae and Paeonia.
The painting consists of two hanging scrolls titled 源琦筆 燕姞・楊貴妃図 (Yanji with Orchids and Yang Guifei with Peonies). Each scroll shows a woman accompanied by a specific flower: one figure holds orchids, the other holds peonies. The orchids and peonies are rendered in ink and color on silk, identifying the botanical subjects as Orchideae and Paeonia.
By pairing the legendary beauties Yanji and Yang Guifei with these respective flowers, the work juxtaposes two ideals of feminine grace, one evoked by the refined, scholarly orchid and the other by the lush, auspicious peony, highlighting contrasting virtues associated with each historical figure.
Technique & Style
Created in 1700 by the artist Genki (also known as Komai Ki), this work comprises a pair of hanging scrolls executed in ink and color on silk. The paintings function as portraits, depicting female figures alongside specific botanical elements: orchids and peonies. As hanging scrolls, the support material of silk is mounted for vertical display, a format characteristic of East Asian painting traditions.
The application of both ink and mineral or organic pigments on the silk ground allows for the detailed rendering of the subjects' features and the floral attributes. The work is classified within the genre of portraiture, emphasizing the representation of the women, Yanji and Yang Guifei, in conjunction with their associated flowers.
History & Provenance
Created in 1700 by Genki (Komai Ki), this pair of hanging scrolls was produced in Japan during the artist's active period. The work entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains held today. No further details regarding an original commission, prior private ownership, intermediate collectors, or acquisition circumstances are documented in the available records. The dating of 1700 is established as the inception year of the work.
The pair of hanging scrolls by Genki (Komai Ki), dated 1700, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. According to the Wikidata record, the work is inventoried within the museum's holdings and its stated location is the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The painting was produced in Japan and entered the museum's collection as a portrait pair executed in ink and color on silk. No specific accession number, acquisition date, or details of past exhibitions are documented in the available sources.
Overview
This pair of hanging scrolls, titled Yanji with Orchids and Yang Guifei with Peonies, features two prominent female figures from Chinese history and legend. Executed with ink and color on silk, the paintings depict Yanji alongside orchids and Yang Guifei with peonies. These works exemplify a common artistic practice of the period, blending distinct cultural aesthetics in their portrayal of celebrated subjects.
Artist & collection
