Artwork
Bamboo in Four Seasons: Summer and Winter

Bamboo in Four Seasons: Summer and Winter is an unspecified painting by the Song dynasty painting artist Unknown. It dates from 1324 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 1982.150
- Credit line
- Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund
About this work
You see two tall bamboo stalks, one lush and green, the other bare and brown, side by side on a plain background.
You see two tall bamboo stalks, one lush and green, the other bare and brown, side by side on a plain background.
This painting was made during the Yuan dynasty, when Mongol rulers governed China. Artists then often used simple subjects like bamboo to show skill without flashy colors. The contrast between summer and winter might hint at patience or change.
To see more work from this time, look up china, yuan dynasty (1271-1368).
Overview
Bamboo in Four Seasons: Summer and Winter is a Yuan dynasty painting depicting two contrasting bamboo stalks, lush green for summer and bare brown for winter, set against a plain background.
Subject & Meaning
The juxtaposition of summer and winter bamboo may symbolize themes of patience, transformation, or the cyclical nature of time, conveyed through a humble yet meaningful subject.
Technique & Style
Characteristic of Yuan dynasty art, the painting features a simple, subdued composition, emphasizing the artist's skill through understated elegance rather than vibrant colors.
History & Provenance
Created during the Yuan dynasty (1271-1368), a period of Mongol rule in China, the artwork reflects the artistic preferences of the time, favoring subtle expressions of technique over ornate displays.
Artist & collection


















