Artwork
明 傳馬守真 蘭石圖 軸|Orchid and Rock
明 傳馬守真 蘭石圖 軸|Orchid and Rock is an ink painting by the Ming dynasty painting artist Ma Shouzhen. It dates from 1572 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
You see a tall scroll with a single orchid plant growing beside a jagged rock.
Ma Shouzhen painted this in 1572, when most artists in China were men. She was also a poet and a musician, and her orchids often stood for quiet strength. The ink is so light in places it looks like the petals could rustle in the wind.
If you like the way ink can feel alive, look up cross-hatching.
Subject & Meaning
In the context of late Ming dynasty literati painting, such pairings typically function as symbolic vehicles rather than mere botanical studies.
Executed in 1572, this hanging scroll presents a composition centered on orchids and rocks, rendered in ink on paper. While cataloged broadly within the landscape genre, the specific visual focus remains on the botanical subject of the Orchid family (Orchideae) paired with stone elements. In the context of late Ming dynasty literati painting, such pairings typically function as symbolic vehicles rather than mere botanical studies.
The orchid traditionally represents purity, humility, and the moral integrity of the scholar-recluse who thrives in seclusion, while the rock symbolizes endurance and steadfastness. Although the available records confirm the depiction of these specific natural elements, they do not detail further iconographic narratives or specific allegorical meanings intended by the artist Ma Shouzhen beyond the identification of the flora.
Technique & Style
The work titled Orchid and Rock is a hanging scroll painted in ink on paper in 1572 in China. Executed as a landscape painting, it portrays a cluster of orchids alongside a rock formation, a subject categorized under Orchideae. The composition reflects the Ming‑period ink‑wash tradition, employing delicate brushstrokes and subtle tonal gradations to render the botanical and geological elements.
As part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, the scroll is preserved as a hanging support, though specific handling or conservation details are not recorded.
History & Provenance
The hanging scroll 明 傳馬守真 蘭石圖 軸 (Orchid and Rock) was produced in 1572 in China by the Ming‑dynasty painter Ma Shouzhen as a hanging scroll in ink on paper, depicting orchids and a rock formation. It is catalogued under the landscape genre. Since its creation the scroll has been part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection in New York, where it is identified as a 16th‑century Chinese work.
The available records confirm the museum as the current custodian but do not specify an accession number, and they contain no information regarding the artwork's exhibition history.
Legacy
The hanging scroll Orchid and Rock attributed to Ma Shouzhen, dated 1572, is classified as a landscape painting and is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Its depiction of orchids aligns with genre conventions of the period and reflects the sustained appreciation of orchid subjects in East Asian art. The work's presence in a major museum collection reflects the continued interest it generates among historians examining the evolution of Chinese painting.
Overview
Orchid and Rock is a hanging scroll painting by Ma Shouzhen, executed in ink on paper in 1572. The composition features a single orchid plant positioned next to a jagged rock, a subject often explored by the artist. This work offers insight into her distinctive artistic voice and her approach to traditional Chinese painting.
Context
This artwork was created in 1572, a time when the artistic sphere in China was largely dominated by men. Ma Shouzhen stood out not only as a painter but also as an accomplished poet and musician. Her diverse talents and her position as a female artist offered a distinctive perspective within the cultural landscape of the Ming dynasty.
Artist & collection
