Epidendrum Blossom from a Flower Album of Ten Leaves 1656
xiangshengmo
minneapolisinstituteofart
ink, color-on-paper
natural world styling
pastel soft colours
cake food
leaf
culinary art
ink
color-on-paper
floral photography
china
watercolour bleed
watercolour illustration
natural palette
botanical art
watercolor
This delicate watercolor painting, titled "Epidendrum Blossom from a Flower Album of Ten Leaves," was created by Xiang Shengmo in 1656. The artist, who is known for his skillful use of light washes to create delicate, transparent forms, portrays the beauty of a blossoming orchid with precise detail and a sense of naturalism. The painting is part of a larger collection of ten leaves, showcasing various flowers in the Chinese style of botanical illustration, which often blended scientific observation with artistic expression.
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Xiang Shengmo was born into one of the most prestigious families in Jiaxing, a city in northeastern China. When the Manchu invasion reached Jiaxing, in 1645, many of Xiang’s friends and relatives died in a vain attempt to save their city. His homestead was destroyed and his family’s art collections lost. Following this upheaval, Xiang’s painting changed from an amateur, literati pursuit, becoming a source of income. Xiang was at the height of his technical and expressive powers when he created this album, featuring a wide range of flowers including wintersweet, cockscomb, apricot, pear, daylily, and cassia. He worked here in pure color without ink outlines and in shaded brushstrokes, which give the impression of three-dimensional modeling.
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