Peonies
On loan to The Met
This work of art is currently on loan to the museum.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.
Artwork Details
- 작자미상 모란도 조선
- 作者未詳 牡丹圖 朝鮮
- Title: Peonies
- Artist: Unidentified artist
- Period: Joseon dynasty (1392–1910)
- Date: 20th century
- Culture: Korea
- Medium: Framed painting; ink and color on paper
- Dimensions: Frame: 59 3/16 × 26 13/16 × 7/8 in. (150.3 × 68.1 × 2.2 cm)
- Classification: Paintings
- Credit Line: Lent by the children of Lea Sneider
- Curatorial Department: Asian Art
Content Notice
The Metropolitan Museum of Art presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world, and our online collection reflects ongoing work conducted over the course of our more than 150-year history. You may encounter objects or images that may be inappropriate for some viewers or information that may be outdated.