Blossoming Plum
PaintingsKorean19th century

Blossoming Plum

mid-19th century

Artists

Cho Hŭi-ryongArtist

Description

Because it blooms in February, before donning its leaves, the Chinese flowering plum (Prunus mume) is associated with winter and is regarded as a symbol of strength in the face of adversity; in addition, its blossoms symbolize feminine beauty, and its weathered trunk, the humble scholar. These various and noble associations made the plum an appealing subject for traditional literati painters in China, Korea, and Japan. This painting clearly depicts aged plum trees; smooth new shoots spring from rugged ancient branches, so that a variety of textures challenges the endless capabilities of brush and ink. In this painting, overlays of dense black ink suggest rough bark peeling from the massive old trunks. Although this leaf is not signed, the seals at the beginning and end of the poem indicate that it was painted by Cho Hŭi-ryong, the foremost Korean painter of ink plum blossoms during the first half of the nineteenth century. Extremely fond of plum blossoms, he is said to have painted plum trees on all the walls of his studio. The poem on this album leaf translates as: Fabricating iron into a pen, Snapping a twig into a hairpin, Old moss suddenly regains its spring freshness, [And] vitality harmoniously follows. An aged crane wearing snow Flies amongst steep cliffs; Sitting cross-legged, a lofty monk Completely empties [his mind] of mortal thoughts. Translated by Hsueh-man Shen

Classification
Paintings
Medium
Folding album leaf (from an album of sixteen leaves) mounted as a hanging scroll; ink on paper, with two rectangular, red, relief seals of the artist reading "Tok Hwa" and "Tae A"
Culture
Korean
Period
Chosŏn dynasty, 1392-1910
Century
19th century
Division
Asian and Mediterranean Art
Department
Department of Asian Art

Dimensions

painting proper: H. 28.1 x W. 41.1 cm (11 1/16 x 16 3/16 in.) mounting, including cord and roller ends: H. 101 x W. 68 cm (39 3/4 x 26 3/4 in.)

Provenance

[Kang Collection, New York (1999)] sold; to Harvard University Art Museums, 1999.

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Blossoming Plum | Harvard Art Museums | KenAI