Plum Branch dated 1888 Yi Yu-won Korean As one of the earliest trees to flower, the plum, a popular subject in painting, represents winter. The delicate but tenacious beauty of plum blossoms blanketed in late winter snow was taken by Confucian scholars as a metaphor for facing hardship with dignity and elegance. Yi Yu-won, a recognized painter, poet, and calligrapher as well as a distinguished scholar-official, served as prime minister under Emperor Gojong (reigned 1864–1907). In this work he skillfully juxtaposed the strong, angular strokes of the plum branch with thin, precise offshoots dott
Plum Branch dated 1888 Yi Yu-won Korean As one of the earliest trees to flower, the plum, a popular subject in painting, represents winter. The delicate but tenacious beauty of plum blossoms blanketed in late winter snow was taken by Confucian scholars as a metaphor for facing hardship with dignity and elegance. Yi Yu-won, a recognized painter, poet, and calligrapher as well as a distinguished scholar-official, served as prime minister under Emperor Gojong (reigned 1864–1907). In this work he skillfully juxtaposed the strong, angular strokes of the plum branch with thin, precise offshoots dotted with delicate blossoms. Painting on a gray background evocative of an overcast day, Yi created depth through the inclusion of a smaller branch whose shape echoes that of the main one in a lighter Plum Branch 40445
Size: 2594px × 4000px
Photo credit: © MET/BOT / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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