Artwork
清 吳熙載 杏花 扇面|Apricot
清 吳熙載 杏花 扇面|Apricot is an ink painting by the Qing dynasty painting artist Wu Xizai. It dates from 1835 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
You see a delicate painting of apricot flowers on a fan. The artist used soft ink and color on alum paper to create this gentle scene. This fan is special because it's mounted as an album leaf, which was a common way to display and store fans in the 19th century. Check out more works at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Subject & Meaning
Executed in 1835 by Wu Xizai (also known as Wu Rangzhi), the piece is classified as a painting depicting fruit and was produced in China.
The work shows apricots rendered on a folding fan that functions as an album leaf. Executed in 1835 by Wu Xizai (also known as Wu Rangzhi), the piece is classified as a painting depicting fruit and was produced in China. It is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
Its subject is the fruit itself, presented through ink and color on alum paper, emphasizing natural detail within a traditional format. By focusing on a single botanical specimen, the painting reflects Qing-era interest in realistic depiction of flora, while the fan format links it to scholarly pursuits of nature study.
Technique & Style
Created in 1835 by Wu Xizai, this work utilizes ink and color applied to alum paper. Although originally executed as a folding fan, the piece has been mounted as an album leaf for preservation and display. The composition depicts fruit, specifically apricots.
The physical object measures 18.7 cm in height and 54.6 cm in width, reflecting the elongated proportions characteristic of fan surfaces adapted for album presentation.
History & Provenance
The folding fan painting titled Apricot was created by Wu Xizai (also known as Wu Rangzhi) in 1835. Executed in ink and color on alum paper, the work depicts fruit. The piece is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
While the specific commission details are not recorded in the available sources, the work's inception is firmly dated to 1835. No specific inventory or accession number, nor exhibition history, is provided in the consulted records.
Overview
Wu Xizai’s 1835 work, titled "Apricot," is a folding fan rendered on alum‑paper and later mounted as a leaf in a picture album. The piece exemplifies the Qing‑period practice of integrating functional objects with fine brushwork, allowing the fan to serve both decorative and collectible purposes.
Context
During the early Qing era, fans were popular canvases for literati artists, who infused personal expression into everyday objects. Wu Xizai’s depiction aligns with this tradition, merging utilitarian design with the aesthetic values of scholarly painting.
Artist & collection
