Pine, Bamboo, Grape, and Squirrel Unidentified 18th–19th century Over the years, specialists have debated whether this ink painting was created by a Korean artist or by a Japanese artist influenced by continental examples of the theme of grape vines and squirrels. Regardless of its country of origin, the artist has created a delightful image of natural fecundity. The squirrel is eating a bunch of grapes held in place by its left paw Ink washes are used to model the squirrel’s head, body, and tail. Densely applied fine curving strokes and small dark dots had then been scattered across the squir

Pine, Bamboo, Grape, and Squirrel Unidentified 18th–19th century Over the years, specialists have debated whether this ink painting was created by a Korean artist or by a Japanese artist influenced by continental examples of the theme of grape vines and squirrels. Regardless of its country of origin, the artist has created a delightful image of natural fecundity. The squirrel is eating a bunch of grapes held in place by its left paw Ink washes are used to model the squirrel’s head, body, and tail. Densely applied fine curving strokes and small dark dots had then been scattered across the squirrel’s body to suggest his dappled fur. Oddly, the squirrel seems to have two tails, one large and bushy, the other long and work is also distinctive for featuring a pine tree and bamboo along with the grape vine. The pine’s bark is suggested by a dense array of compressed semicircles painted with a wet brush; its clusters of thin needles are delineated against areas of light ink wash. Grape vines are shown climbing up the trunk of the tree. The grape leaves are executed with a rough and dry brush to suggest their coarse texture. Each grape is painted with layered ink tones to enhance the illusion of roundness. The sweet fragrance of the grapes has attracted three bees. Bamboo stalks have leaves rapidly painted in dark ink, together with lighter leaves behind, to suggest a sense of spatial juxtaposition of grapes and squirrels symbolizes family prosperity, a pictorial subject that emerged in the Yuan dynasty (1271–1368) and became popular across East Asia as both a painting theme and a motif on decorative objects, even architecture. While grapes, which entered China through the Silk Road in the Han dynasty, have always been considered an auspicious fruit, the multiplicity of grapes on a branch also came to be associated with fertility. Adorable and prolific, squirrels were similarly associated with having many children. Presumably, the additio

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