Artwork
明/清 項聖謨 梅花 扇|Branch of Blossoming Plum
明/清 項聖謨 梅花 扇|Branch of Blossoming Plum is an ink painting by the Ming dynasty painting artist Xiang Shengmo. It dates from 1620 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1620 by the Chinese painter Xiang Shengmo, this work presents a solitary plum branch rendered on a folding fan that serves as an album leaf. The composition is set against a luminous gold paper, a material traditionally reserved for affluent patrons. The piece belongs to the broader tradition of flower painting, emphasizing the elegance of a single blossom motif.
Subject & Meaning
The image focuses on a lone branch of plum, a symbol often associated with resilience and the arrival of spring in Chinese art. By isolating the branch on a plain background, the work invites contemplation of the flower’s delicate form and its cultural connotations of perseverance amid adversity.
Technique & Style
Ink is applied with such subtlety that many strokes appear almost invisible, yet occasional bolder lines reveal the artist’s confident brush control. The use of gold paper not only adds a reflective surface but also heightens the contrast between the faint ink and the shimmering ground, demonstrating a sophisticated balance of restraint and assertiveness.
History & Provenance
The fan’s gold substrate indicates it was likely commissioned for a wealthy collector, as such materials were costly during the Ming‑Qing transition. The work has survived as part of a portable album, a format favored by connoisseurs who valued both aesthetic refinement and the practicality of a folding medium.
Artist & collection
