Flowers c. 16th century

hanging-scroll, ink

pattern heavy

natural stone pattern

naturalistic pattern

loose pattern

geometric pattern

hanging-scroll

ink

tile art

abstract pattern

organic pattern

china

pattern repetition

layered pattern

"Flowers" is a hanging scroll created by Lu Zhi, a prominent Chinese artist of the Ming Dynasty, around the 16th century. It depicts delicate pink blossoms with butterflies fluttering around them, set against a warm brown background. The scroll is framed by a decorative border of teal and gold, typical of Chinese scroll painting. The work showcases Lu Zhi's mastery of brushstrokes, capturing the subtle beauty of nature with elegant precision. The graceful composition and intricate details contribute to the overall sense of tranquility and harmony. This painting is a testament to the enduring tradition of depicting flowers and butterflies in Chinese art, signifying beauty, ephemerality, and the cyclical nature of life.

Comments

minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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Compared to bird-and-flower paintings of the same period, this painting shows a much heavier use of color, a characteristic typical of the attributed artist, Lu Zhi. It is more concerned with descriptive realism and appearance than a spontaneous ‘composing of the idea' style practiced by amateur scholar-gentlemen. Its rich colouring and meticulous detail provide an intimate, decorative appearance. The charm of the painting also comes from the cultural connotation implied by the motifs themselves. The Chinese name for butterfly, die 蝶, for instance, is a pun on the term die 耋, denoting a person who has reached an old age. Therefore, it may have been created to commemorate an important birthday of an elderly gentleman.