Ink Plum
1504
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1504
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Ink Plum is a 1504 unspecified by Peng Xu, a Ming Painting work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
You see a single plum branch twisting across empty paper, ink blossoms scattered like snow. This painting hung in a scholar’s room to welcome spring. The artist left white streaks in the dark ink to show rough bark—almost like lightning cracks. The whole sheet is washed in pale gray, so the branch feels like it’s floating in mist. Look up more paintings of china, ming dynasty (1368–1644) to see how scholars decorated their quiet spaces.
Seasonal paintings, including those depicting flowering plum trees in early spring, furnished scholars’ studios or other interior spaces in the house. Peng Xu is considered the foremost follower of the famous plum blossom painter Wang Mian (1287–1359) (see CMA 1974.26). The branches are brushed in the same vigorous manner leaving white streaks in the ink indicating the gnarled bark. The delicate blossoms are drawn in fine lines, while a gray wash covers the entire surface, only leaving the flower petals in reserve.
Plum trees blossom in the first months of the year; the delicate flowers endure the harsh winter frosts. A popular motif in Chinese ink painting, the plum symbolizes the winter season and is a harbinger of spring.
Read the full account in the museum source.
