Plum 1886

Jin Lan created this ink and colour on paper fan painting called Plum. The fan presents a serene scene dominated by the delicate plum blossoms, meticulously rendered against a pale, cool background. Vertical lines segmenting the fan’s surface subtly reinforce the composition’s structure and guide our eye across the unfolding branches. The composition delicately balances the naturalism of the plum tree with the geometric constraints of the fan. The placement of the inscription isn't just aesthetic but introduces a dialogue between text and image. Note how the formal qualities of the Chinese calligraphy complement the organic forms of the plum blossoms. The fan shape itself destabilizes traditional rectangular formats, challenging conventions of pictorial space and engaging with new ways of seeing. The seals act as both a structural anchor and a semiotic marker, their red contrasting with the monochrome palette. Ultimately, this work encapsulates a refined sensibility, where each element—color, line, and form—coalesces to form a unified aesthetic statement.