Peonies

With its lush petals, the peony is admired for its beauty and as a symbol of material prosperity and good fortune. In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, peony paintings were popular in various formats, from folding screens to single panels. The artist has taken a graphic and uninhibited approach to this subject, using loose lines and dark pigments. As a visualization of abundance, the blossoms, leaves, and stems of the peonies fill the entire painting surface. At the bottom is a blue rock, which is frequently paired with peonies. On the lower left, a child used the painting as a place to practice their letters.