Accession Number
1980/2.162

Title
Plum Blossom

Artist(s)
Kanō Tan'yū

Object Creation Date
17th century

Medium & Support
hanging scroll, ink on paper

Dimensions
37 in x 15 1/4 in (93.98 cm x 38.74 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Milton Williams, Austin, Texas

Subject matter
"Almost before the Winter snows have melted, the barren landscape welcomes the blooming of the PlumTree, the fragrance and delicacy of whose snowy-white or light pink blossoms share, with the angular tree itself, the older people’s special admiration. The Japanese see the contrast between the knotted trunks and young green shoots as symbolic of age and youth — one bent and crabbed, the other fresh and vigorous, suggesting that in spite of age, the charm and joy of youth can always rise anew."

Koehn, Alfred. Japanese Flower Symbolism. At the Lotus Court, 1954.

Physical Description
There are branches with plum blossoms coming from a tree. There is a signature and stamp on the left side of the hanging scroll. The hanging scroll is bordered with a brown design.

Primary Object Classification
Painting

Primary Object Type
hanging scroll

Collection Area
Asian

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form. Keywords
Japan
flowers
hanging scroll
plum tree