Tree Peonies 1644 - 1690

Yun Shouping painted these Tree Peonies on silk, and presented the artwork as a scroll. The prominence of peonies here transcends mere botanical illustration; it's a deliberate invocation of cultural memory. In Chinese iconography, the peony reigns as the 'king of flowers,' a symbol of wealth, honor, and prosperity. Note how these blooms, rendered in delicate pinks and whites, cluster densely, almost overflowing with vitality. We can trace echoes of such floral abundance back to ancient Greece, where similar motifs adorned funerary wreaths, signifying eternal life and remembrance. Yet, here, the symbolism diverges. The peonies are not emblems of mourning but affirmations of life's opulence. The choice of peonies engages our subconscious, stirring a sense of longing for an idealized existence. The cyclical nature of life and death and the subconscious desire for beauty and prosperity are timeless, surfacing in diverse forms across cultures.