Artwork
清 金農 墨梅圖 冊|Plum blossoms
清 金農 墨梅圖 冊|Plum blossoms is an ink painting by the Qing dynasty painting artist Jin Nong. It dates from 1757 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
The album comprises twelve leaves painted in monochrome ink on paper, exemplifying Jin Nong’s restrained yet expressive brushwork.
The album comprises twelve leaves painted in monochrome ink on paper, exemplifying Jin Nong’s restrained yet expressive brushwork. The artist renders plum branches with fine, calligraphic lines, varying pressure to modulate thickness and produce a rhythmic vitality in the bare limbs and swelling buds. Delicate ink washes define petal clusters, suggesting subtle color without departing from the monochrome palette.
Stylistic emphasis falls on linear structure and tonal contrast rather than on dense modeling or background setting, aligning with the scholar-amateur mode of late Ming–Qing literati practice.
The support is paper, consistent with the album format, and the overall handling favors dry brush and minimal wash to articulate form through gradations of black ink alone.
History & Provenance
The album of twelve leaves titled Plum blossoms was created by the artist Jin Nong in 1757. Executed in ink on paper, the work depicts flowers and trees and was produced in China. The piece is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
No specific details regarding the original commission, the identity of the initial patron, or the subsequent chain of ownership prior to its acquisition by the museum are provided in the available records.
The album of twelve ink-on-paper leaves depicting plum blossoms, created by Jin Nong in 1757, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work measures 25.4 cm in height and 29.8 cm in width. While the piece is cataloged within the museum's holdings, the provided records do not list a specific accession number or detail any past exhibition history for this specific album.
Overview
This artwork by Jin Nong, titled Plum Blossoms, is an ink painting from 1757. It forms part of an album composed of twelve leaves, executed on paper. The piece features a solitary branch of plum blossoms, rendered with a minimalist aesthetic that highlights the delicate form of the flowering tree. It exemplifies the artist's distinctive approach to traditional Chinese ink painting.
Subject & Meaning
The plum blossom, or meihua, holds significant cultural symbolism in East Asian art, representing resilience, purity, and renewal, particularly as it blooms in late winter. Jin Nong's depiction of a single branch evokes these qualities through its sparse yet vital presence. The choice of subject aligns with a long tradition of literati painting, where natural forms conveyed deeper philosophical meanings.
Artist & collection
