Blossoming plum 1759

Curator: Before us we have "Blossoming Plum," a piece completed in 1759 by Jin Nong. It's currently held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Editor: It's stark. My immediate impression is of a delicate, fragile beauty rendered in the barest essentials of ink. Look how little substance is needed to evoke the feeling of spring! Curator: Exactly. The symbolism of plum blossoms in Chinese art is profound, representing perseverance and hope, even a defiant beauty blooming in the face of winter's hardship. This drawing captures that resilience. Editor: I'm curious about the ink itself. What kind was used? How does the absorbency of the paper—its texture—contribute to the wispy, ethereal quality of those branches? Was it handmade paper, and what region of China was known for it? Those choices are intrinsic to the image's evocative nature. Curator: The use of ink, of course, nods to literati painting traditions. Notice the calligraphy? Inscriptions and seals are integrated into the composition, adding layers of meaning and revealing aspects about its maker as an artist, poet and scholar. Editor: How do you see it reflecting traditional Chinese methods and what does this piece have to say about innovation? Was Jin Nong reacting to changes or doubling down on older modes? The very act of creation in the face of external influences interests me most. Curator: He’s an individualist. Jin Nong sought simplicity and direct expression, even developing his own unique calligraphy style, a deliberate break from calligraphic convention that some consider "awkward". The Blossoming Plum is more of an emotional expression that adheres to certain visual codes. Editor: To that point, the materiality itself becomes rebellious – that awkwardness perhaps a physical manifestation of his breakaway? Understanding his relationship to material innovation opens us up to him as an artist deeply imbedded in social structures. Curator: Food for thought. Considering these aspects together allows us a deeper appreciation. Editor: Absolutely, and reminds us art is never separate from its production.