Hawk, pine, plum, and rock

Zhu Cheng Chinese

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Zhu Cheng painted in Shanghai in the waning years of the Qing dynasty. At a time when China’s position on the world stage had been weakened, images of birds of prey became more popular. Artists and patrons looked to inject a sense of strength into the ink-painting tradition through these symbols of martial power. The hawk stands stolidly on a wizened old pine as flowering plum—a sign of spring renewal—blossoms below.

Hawk, pine, plum, and rock, Zhu Cheng (Chinese, 1826–1900), Hanging scroll; ink and color on paper, China

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