Hydrangea c. early 19th century

This delicate hanging scroll, titled “Hydrangea” and created by Nakamura Hōchū, is a beautiful example of 19th century Japanese art. Hōchū, born in 1819, utilizes a minimalist aesthetic to create a serene and calming scene featuring a lone hydrangea plant on a pale peach background. The artist's signature is a small red seal found in the lower left corner of the scroll, highlighting the importance of this detail in traditional Japanese art. This artwork is held at the Minneapolis Institute of Art and exemplifies the use of subtle brushwork, light washes of color, and intricate detail characteristic of Hōchū's work. The delicate rendering of the plant is symbolic of nature's resilience and beauty.