Plum Blossoms, Hanging Scroll
Luo Pin
Qing Dynasty
- MEDIUM:Ink on paper
- FORMATS:Hanging scroll
- DIMENSIONS:Height 126.0 cm; Width 31.5 cm
Introduction
Luo Pin was celebrated for his paintings of plum blossoms, developing a highly distinctive style of his own. In this work, a gnarled branch extends boldly into view, its surface articulated with sweeping brushstrokes. The blossoms—depicted either in full bloom or as tightly furled buds—fill the picture plane with varied forms. Luo employed a circle stroke to outline the petals and dot the stamens, capturing the fragrance and vitality of the blossoms. The twisting branches, rendered in strong, confident lines, balance dense and light ink tones, creating rhythm and tension. The Qing literatus Fa Shishan once remarked that Luo’s mastery “lay entirely in the branches of plum blossoms.” The inscription reads: “Painted in the manner of Boiling Stone Farmer, and dedicated to my close friend CHUNPU(Jiang Yu) for his refined appreciation.” “Boiling Stone Farmer” refers to Yuan-dynasty painter Wang Mian, celebrated as a master of plum blossom painting. Emulating Wang’s unadorned, rustic approach, Luo evokes a spontaneous, natural charm. “Chunpu” was the style name of Jiang Yu, a Qing physician-painter and close friend of Luo, to whom this work was presented.
