Artwork
Paintings after Ancient Masters: Chrysanthemum
Paintings after Ancient Masters: Chrysanthemum is an unspecified painting by the Ming dynasty painting artist Chen Hongshou. It dates from 1625 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Chen Hongshou painted this during a time of war and change, linking his own struggles to Tao’s story.
A single chrysanthemum blooms in a simple ceramic vase. The flower leans slightly, its many petals carefully drawn, against a plain background.
The painting honors Tao Yuanming, a poet who chose a quiet life over politics. Chen Hongshou painted this during a time of war and change, linking his own struggles to Tao’s story.
This work reflects a deep respect for nature and personal choice. For more on art from this era, look up the subject: china, ming dynasty (1368–1644).
(Word count: 98)
Overview
Paintings after Ancient Masters: Chrysanthemum is a work by Chen Hongshou, created during a period of significant turmoil in China.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a single chrysanthemum in a simple vase, alluding to the poet Tao Yuanming, who cultivated the flower and chose a reclusive life over officialdom during another era of upheaval.
Technique & Style
The chrysanthemum's numerous petals are meticulously rendered against a plain background, showcasing the artist's attention to detail.
Context
Chen Hongshou's work was produced during the violent transition from the Ming to the Qing dynasty around 1644, drawing a parallel between his own experiences and those of Tao Yuanming.
Artist & collection
明 陳洪綬 樹下高士圖 軸|Scholar-recluse in blue-green landscape
Paintings after Ancient Masters: Daoist and Crane in Autumn Landscape
Paintings after Ancient Masters: Autumn Landscape
Paintings after Ancient Masters: Scholars in a Garden
Paintings after Ancient Masters: Portrait of Zhongqing in a Landscape
明 陳洪綬 準提佛母法像圖 軸|Bodhisattva Guanyin in the Form of the Buddha Mother
明 陳洪綬 山水花鳥人物圖 扇冊|Landscapes and Flowers
明 陳洪綬 山水圖 扇|Landscape
