Peonies/Seven-Character Quatrain 1820 - 1840

"Peonies/Seven-Character Quatrain" is a pair of hanging scrolls created by the Japanese scholar, poet, and artist Rai San’yō between 1820 and 1840, currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The left scroll depicts a delicate peony branch in full bloom, rendered with meticulous brushstrokes, while the right scroll displays a poem by San’yō, reflecting the artist’s deep appreciation for nature. This artwork exemplifies the Japanese tradition of *literati painting*, where calligraphy and painting are interwoven to express the artist’s emotions and philosophies. The combination of delicate floral imagery and lyrical poetry makes this artwork a poignant expression of beauty and sentiment.