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Three hermits

Post #983 • April 5, 2007, 8:08 PM • 2 Comments

Boston—I came away from Through Six Generations with a new appreciation for color in Chinese painting. It ranges quite a bit wider that the monochromal stereotype. There is, for instance, a distinct blue-and-green tendency that distinguishes such works from the ink-and-wash style, although it seems that by the Ming period any painter worth his salt could switch modes. One can see it here—a little more refinement in the chrysanthemum, a little more gesture in the plum. I've looked for other paintings with these three flowers in combination without success. Alas, my Chinese is inadequate to see if the text reveals any clues about the unusual choice to group them. Wo xuexi Hanyu! Meh. I have contacted some people with actual skills.

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