Author:Chiang-Sung Mei-Ling(1898-2003)

Size:Length:119 x Width:59.5 (cm)

Size description：71×39(畫心)

Introduction： Hollyhock and bamboos, common flowers and trees in Chinese literati's gardens, are archetypal subjects in Chinese paintings. Masterpieces from Tang and Song dynasties' brush paintings or Yuan and Ming dynasties' boneless artwork both depicted sunflowers and bamboos. Furthermore, Ming dynasties' literati painters often took inspiration from bananas and phoenix trees, lotus and daffodils, plums, orchids, bamboo, and rocks. Combining ink painting with poetry and calligraphy, the artists epitomized the spirits and atmosphere evident in Hollyhock paintings.
In the form of a hanging scroll, the painting depicts hollyhocks and bamboos. A Hollyhock is an ornamental dicot flowering plant, with compound calyx, alternate leaf inflorescence, and reticulate leaf veins, in the family Malvaceae. In nature, the petals of hollyhocks are soft and delicate, with bright and living leaves. Similarly, the bamboo is slender and swinging. The flower and bamboo lean against each other, forming an elegant scenery driven by the wind. In the painting, the flower stands upright. There seems to be a particular order in the flowers; the flowers from the bottom are in full bloom, while the ones closer to the top of the painting are still budding. Intertwining between the leaves, the flowers form a simple and refreshing look. On the left of the painting, there is a young bamboo. The varying branches, leaves, and flowers are as if conversing in a dialogue. Despite the typical painting composition, its form is bright, generous, and classical.
Hsu Chin commented on Chen Chun's "Hollyhock and Bamboo" in his work "Ming Dynasty Paintings Collection," saying "In Chen's painting, the intertwined uses of light and dark ink in the flowers creates a naturally sparse and slanting chaos that mirrors reality, as if the scenery is coming to life." The beauty of the painting's brush strokes and ink rhythms exemplar the painter's technique and aesthetic.
The author, Chiang-Sung Mei-Ling (1897-2003), studied painting in her middle age. She was a gifted artist who appreciated the natural world. Her ink and wash painting techniques and brushstrokes resemble calligraphy's power: quiet and forte, fast and light. The hollyhocks are sometimes seen with recumbent, changing direction, and intentional dry strokes (flying white). On the one hand, the bamboos were painted with a center tip full of calligraphy style. On the other hand, the hollyhock leaves are splashed with ink and wash, with a strong and light weight, creating a contrasting yet elegant work. The painting was created from a sophisticated ink technique and imagery, portraying a literati’s interest in ink and wash painting concerning flowers.

Accession Number:OF08301000