Floral Painting, Album Leaves
Chen Zhuan
Qing Dynasty
- MEDIUM:Ink on paper
- FORMATS:Album of 10 leaves
- DIMENSIONS:Height 24.5 cm; Width 15.5 cm
Introduction
This ‘Floral Painting’ consists of eight paintings of plum blossoms, as well as one painting each of narcissus and ink bamboo. Each plum blossom panel exudes its own character—some outlined with fine lines, others painted in freehand ‘boneless’ style. Certain branches stretch gracefully, lush with leaves, while others display sturdy trunks dotted with delicate blooms. The ink varies in tone and texture, combining dry and wet strokes, with light washes as the main tone accented by darker ink dots. The narcissus is rendered with light, flowing lines, sketched in just a few strokes, and looks like a slender, elegant water nymph. The ink bamboo presents a distinctive yet straightforward form; its leaves interweave rhythmically, with varied ink intensities creating rich visual contrast. Each floral stands independently with a solitary stem—seemingly sparse, yet deeply expressive of the artist’s noble and solitary spirit.
At the end of the album, a colophon by Qing dynasty painter Huang Pingge records his acquisition of the album in 1852, regarding it as a treasured possession. Subsequently, the album was also collected by connoisseurs Zhou Xiangyun and Wu Puxin.
