Crabapple, China rose, and Indian flycatcher 1750

Shen Quan painted this hanging scroll, Crabapple, China rose, and Indian flycatcher, using ink and colors on silk, sometime in the 18th century. Shen Quan was a court painter during the Qing Dynasty, and his work reflects the naturalism and decorative style favored by the imperial court. These types of bird-and-flower paintings, which appear apolitical, became spaces to explore symbolic messages, as the choice of subject held layers of meaning. Note how the roses, crabapples, and birds symbolize beauty, wealth, and status. The flowers suggest a celebration of feminine beauty and virtue, while the presence of the birds injects an element of liveliness and movement. It’s interesting to think about the ways court art, like this painting, negotiates the complex intersection of power, aesthetics, and cultural values. Consider how this work invites us to contemplate the relationship between the natural world and social status, and the emotional connection we have to both.