Sparse Willows and Xiao Melody, Hanging Scroll
Hua Yan
Qing Dynasty
- MEDIUM:Ink and color on paper
- FORMATS:Hanging scroll
- DIMENSIONS:Height 113 cm; Width 61 cm
Introduction
Hua Yan’s extant works are dominated by bird-and-flower subjects, noted for their simplicity of composition. Branches and leaves are kept to a minimum, emphasizing the birds and flowers to achieve a refined, distinctive effect.
Painted at age seventy-four, this work depicts late autumn with sparse willows and several Hwamei birds perched among the branches. Known for their melodious calls reminiscent of a flute, these birds are called “Xiaoqu Mountain Birds.” Orchids at the base of the trees underscore the vitality of the willows, conveying the season’s quiet charm. Rendered in delicate colors, the willows are drawn with varying ink tones, while the birds are painted using the “boneless” (mogu) technique, appearing lively and expressive. The open, balanced composition exemplifies Hua Yan’s mastery of simplicity and refinement. A renowned Chinese landscape painter, Huang Binhong, praised the work, observing that “each stroke resembles withered vines or falling stones, vigorous yet graceful.”
