Artwork
清 石濤 (朱若極) 花石圖 軸|Hibiscus, Lotus, and Rock
清 石濤 (朱若極) 花石圖 軸|Hibiscus, Lotus, and Rock is an ink painting by the Baroque artist Shitao. It dates from 1706 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Created in 1706, Hibiscus, Lotus, and Rock is a hanging scroll in ink on paper that depicts specific botanical subjects: hibiscus, lotus, and a rock.
Created in 1706, Hibiscus, Lotus, and Rock is a hanging scroll in ink on paper that depicts specific botanical subjects: hibiscus, lotus, and a rock. The work falls within the landscape genre while focusing on floral and plant imagery. As a painting by Shitao (Zhu Ruoji), the composition presents these natural elements as the primary visual content.
The sources identify the depicted subjects simply as flowers and plants without providing further elaboration on specific symbolic meanings or iconographic interpretations associated with the hibiscus, lotus, or rock in this particular instance.
Technique & Style
The work is executed as a hanging scroll using ink on paper, a format typical of Chinese painting in the early 18th century. Shitao employs delicate brushstrokes and subtle ink wash to render hibiscus, lotus, and a solitary rock, creating a compact yet atmospheric composition that emphasizes botanical detail. The scroll's support consists of paper mounted for hanging display.
Its formal qualities include a restrained palette, rhythmic line work, and a balanced spatial arrangement that reflects the artist's integration of poetic inscription with visual motif. The piece belongs to the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection and was created in China in 1706.
History & Provenance
The painting was created in 1706 by Shitao (Zhu Ruoji) in China, executed as a hanging scroll in ink on paper. It is now held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is classified as a painting depicting flowers and plants. No further details about its commission, intermediate ownership, or chain of custody prior to its acquisition by the museum are documented in the available sources.
Overview
Created in 1706, near the end of his life, 'Hibiscus, Lotus, and Rock' is a hanging scroll executed in ink on paper by the Qing dynasty master Shitao. The composition features a sparse arrangement of a large, textured rock accompanied by a lotus leaf and two hibiscus blooms. Shitao employs a distinctive technique that contrasts wet, fluid ink washes for the delicate flower petals with dry, scratchy brushstrokes to define the rugged surface of the stone.
This juxtaposition highlights the artist's mastery of ink tonality and his ability to convey texture through varied brush pressure. The significant use of negative space is integral to the work's aesthetic, functioning not as an empty void but as an active element that balances the physical forms and suggests atmospheric depth. Painted when the artist was in his seventies, this work reflects his mature style, characterized by a departure from strict adherence to traditional models in favor of a more personal, expressive approach.
It exemplifies Shitao's theoretical emphasis on the 'one-stroke' method, where a single, continuous spirit guides the brushwork across the entire surface. The piece stands as a testament to his late-career refinement, merging botanical observation with landscape sensibilities to create a unified, meditative image.
Artist & collection
