Minneapolis Institute of Art

Orchids

Tanomura Chokunyū

Date

second half 19th century

Medium

Ink on paper

Department

Asian Art

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

In East Asia, the orchid appears frequently not just because of its beauty, but also for its cultural significance. In China, the flower was considered one of the four gentlemen (in Chinese, sijunzi)—along with bamboo, chrysanthemum, and plum—that represented the noble virtues of true literati. The four plants also constituted the basis of art education: their simple forms allowed beginners to practice the fundamental strokes of painting. Here, Chokunyū represents orchids in just a few brushstrokes in varying degrees of ink wash. Japan

The authoritative record is held by Minneapolis Institute of Art. LinkedCulture surfaces this object and its connections; it does not alter institutional metadata.