Picture Hanging 1662 - 1722

This ‘Picture Hanging’ was produced during the reign of the Chinese emperor K'ang Hsi. In it, a flowering branch extends across a golden field, adorned with birds, and rooted in rock. Consider the ancient symbolism imbued in this piece. The flowering branch, a ubiquitous motif throughout art history, speaks to rebirth and renewal, a concept that transcends cultural boundaries, appearing in the mythologies of ancient Greece as well as in Renaissance paintings. Birds, often seen as messengers between the earthly and divine realms, echo this theme of transition and spiritual awakening. The symbolism of the rock is more complex. In Daoist traditions, rocks are seen as the literal bones of the Earth, and they stand for permanence in a world of change. From archaic menhirs to the rough, rugged landscape of Romanticism, this symbol elicits powerful psychological reactions, evoking feelings of awe, solitude, and a connection to the sublime. These emblems invite viewers to reflect on their own subconscious attachments to nature and the eternal cycle of life, death, and renewal. This interplay between motifs, emotions, and memories is what shapes our interpretation of this timeless composition.